The Pug Diaries

AWOL

2007-06-27T19:41:00.001Z

We're still here!! Have been very remis in updating. We've had a fair bit of excitement over here with Deuce. Fun stuff first- we got to go to wales and deuce actually of his own volition went into a lake! Well, I was throwing stones for him to fetch.. He did stand their like it was very distasteful to him, but he didn't immediately run out! Little man is growing up!

Second big news is we've decided not to go through with his snip snip. We made the appointment and everything, but everyone kept saying how much calmer he would be, and that freaked me out since he is pretty calm already! So I chatted with his walker and his vet, and they both thought it was not necessary. So yay for deuce. Still has his bits.

Deuce hasn't been having that great a time with his eyes. Over the last month he's scratched his right eye twice and left eye once. The first twi times it healed fairly quickly, they were quite superficial. The last time, it got nasty. Very large, deep ulcer on his eye. The 2 recommended opthamologists in london are on hol til mid july (what were they thinkin??) So we were sent to cambridge, the animal health centre. That was last monday. After daily calls updating us, we finally got the ok to go get him, so am on the train now to cambridge to get our little man. Am so excited to see him! His eye is all healed, thank goodness. I am getting a pair of doggles for deuce for when he is out roughhousing in the park.

Not a moment too soon either, as we are due to drive up to cumbria on friday with deuce's friend max.

Oh and next week more fun- tues is my birthday, so for a treat k and I are taking max and deuce to the macmillan dog day! A whole afternoon and evening of doggie delights and adult drinks. Cool! We took out a half page of the programme and put in a piccie of the two of them. I want deuce to meet the duchess of cornwall's dog! She is the patron of the event (the dog, not the lady).

Pug has a bad eye

2007-05-28T06:43:00.000Z

I've been bad at updating the Pug Diaries, so David, the dear fiance, is taking a guest spot here as a roving correspondent for the Diaries, and this is is first post! -Alice

LONDON (AP)

Deuce has had eye problems this week. First it was his left eye, then his right.

It started at the end of last week when we noticed his eye had more eye gupe than normal. We took him to the vet on Elizabeth Street on the Saturday morning and he applied some flourescent liquid, which revealed a small scratch on the cornea. The vet said it wasn't serious but prescribed some antibiotic eye drops to help him get better. Deuce didn't like having the eye drops at first but he soon got used to it and his eye got better in no time.

However..... just after his left eye had recovered he hurt his right eye! We do not know how it happened - pugs have very prominent eyes so often have eye problems - but his walker called us to say he was scrathcing his eye and when he got home it ws all inflamed and gupey. It didn't improve overnight so we took him to the vet again (his normal vet this time) the following morning. This time the scratch was much worse and as well as antiboitic drops, Deuce had to wear a cone aroudn his neck to prevent him scratching his eye any further.

Deuce didn't like the cone at first but he soon got used to it. He even slept with it on and it didn't seem to bother him. The only problem is that the sneaky little monster has worked out that he can still scratch his eyes if he rubs his face against something like the a corner of a table because that goes between the two sides of the cone. We have therefore had to keep a close eye on him.

Update on Tuesday evening: eye is much better. We hope to remove the cone soon. Pug is sleeping in the corner snoring away.

Happy Birthday to you!

2007-05-18T07:25:00.001Z

Deuce wishes Frank a hugely happy birthday!!!

Visitors

2007-05-14T07:45:00.000Z

My Uncle and Aunt dropped in to visit yesterday. They are on their way to Greece. They came over briefly, we headed down to our local pub for some very english lunch - fish and chips, and a pint of prawns. Oh and of course Pimms, even though it was rather cold out and not quite the summer that should be accessorized with a Pimms and lemonade. Then dropped them off at their hotel for a quick kip, seeing as it was something like 5 am in Calgary where they are from.

Headed home for some cuddle time with Deuce. He hasn't had that great a weekend, we didn't get a chance to get out to the park, as sat we were running errands. He was up early this morning, crying to be let out. He actually needed to go to the loo - we were so impressed that he was trying to let us know AND holding it at the same time. He's growing up.

And we need give him the "snip snip" soon...am a little reluctant, he doesn't seem to need it....

Communing with Tuscan pugs...

2007-05-09T08:01:00.000Z

Ciao! Back from bella Toscana, great but short trip. David and I both agree that our favourite was San Gimignano - will have to go back and stay there. Cortona was beautiful, Florence very busy, Siena as lovely as ever. We saw a black pug at the Sunday antiques market in Arezzo, but he wasn't nearly as cute as Deuce, Zelda or Miko! Another pug at Siena, fawn, owned by a Dutch guy - Django - was that you? The owner was on the phone when I said hello to the pug.

Django - is that you?

Food was great, the drives through Chianti luscious. We were so pleased with ourselves for having found this great little venti diretti shop from Il Paradiso tenuta (vineyard/chateau thingy). Bought 9 bottles. Then got to the airport to realise NO LIQUIDS to be brought through security. Sigh. One had already been sacrificed to the gods of SS439, a bumpy road from San Gimignano to Pisa, and so we tried to cram the remaining 8, well, 9 as we had also a small bottle of vin santo, into our small wheely and my backpack. 5 big ones into the wheely and the little vin santo, and 2 into my back pack. We saran wrapped them (a lady at the airport specialised in this) and then realised there was one more left. Oops. Another sacrifice to Bacchus to protect the wines on the voyage! We gave it to the saranwrap woman.I watched the baggage handlers load the bags. Each one, unless it was super heavy, was lifted into the air, and then dropped at a height of about half a meter to a meter onto the conveyor belt into the belly of the plane, depending on how high the dude could lift it. It didn't bode well from the bottles...Got to Gatwick, retrieved our bags (and miraculously my knitting bag which was the size of a large grapefruit, so very prone to dropping off the belt, getting caught in the rubber curtains, that security told me had to be checked even though the stinky BA Club World dude told me it was fine! then tried to make me pay 90 euros for checking as second bag. I was aghast. Thankfully his supe waived it.)

Our saran wrapped suitcase.

I didn't get a shot of my backpack all condomed up, but this is it - all soft and squishy -without the plastic wrap.

And here are the 7 bottles (the eight has been whisked away by David for his coworker who covered for him this weekend).

I still can't believe they made it intact.

And here is little Deuce, growing by the day, snuggling up with his ducky, now nice and clean!

It was great to see Deuce again - he's growing up. Peeing like a big boy now, no more squatting, though he still manages to pee a bit on his leg. He hasn't quite got the aim thing down.

Change of scene.

2007-05-02T21:12:00.000Z

We've changed Deuce's visits with Cleone - he's going to be picked up at 830 Mon Tues Thur and Fri and dropped off at 3pm. I feel like we have a latch key kid. I want to put a mini back pack on him in the mornings with his lunch and send him off with his nanny. Goodness, what am I going to be like if we ever have kids?!?

Deuce still does his catlike stretches, but he's taken to kicking me when he's sleeping. Is he dreaming of running fast? Maybe he has a nervous twitch? Or maybe he's just saying, outta my space biped!

Washing

2007-05-01T08:27:00.000Z

So what's Deuce looking at?

His favourite ducky! He sleeps with the ducky, and likes to chew his wings and feet - they have squeakers in them. Don't worry Deuce - Ducky'll come out right as rain.

Growing up

2007-04-29T16:19:00.000Z

Deuce has graduated up a level in responsibility! He's still sleeping in his cage (David likes to call it his 'bed' but I like to call a spade a spade), but we no longer lock him in at night - we just close the door. When he wakes up he can push it open and move to his other bed where he'll sleep in the morning. I suspect he might get bit hot in the cage, so he usually changes location around 6 or 7 in the morning. First night last week he cried as normal, but when he figured out he could open the door, he stopped crying and just moved to his other bed and slept till we got up. Last night he came into our room at 3 in the morning (we forgot to shut the baby/puppy gate) but i'm pretty sure cause he felt bad. I went back into the living room with him, and he puked pretty much straight away. It was a bit scary - he was retching, and when he did puke he was so rigor mortis like and the force of it meant he pretty much did a back flip - only totally rigid. It freaked me out, but he seems ok now.

With his best pal Max.

2007-04-25T17:58:00.000Z

Sir Deuce-a-lot has been very sweet of late. It was so nice to come home, and have little deuce squealing away happily. He has such a funny personality - definitely a bit of a clown.

Little Monkey

Home

2007-04-22T22:50:00.000Z

Looking forward to getting home. have been in NYC since Tuesday, and have been missing the Deuce very much! C his sitter has texted to say he's fine - and that she is going to be sad having to give him back! :) Am happy for Deuce she cares for him so much. Arriving back home on Monday morning, so C will drop him off in the am, in time for me to come home and give him a crazy hug!

NYC has loads of dogs everywhere, but funnily enough, I didn't see many pugs. In fact, though I saw pretty much two or three dogs every block, I only saw 5 pugs over the 6 days. really old fawn ones, with the cute salt and pepper beards. Keep thinking how great it would be to move there - Deuce would love Central Park, running around in the rocky hills, the grassy knolls and the ponds!

More piccies!

2007-04-14T15:56:00.000Z

Little Deuce not too keen on the sea....

Thinking I might entice him in by showing him how fun it is.

See, aren't we having fun?

Better on the beach.

Pugtona

Piccies!

2007-04-10T18:27:00.000Z

Courtesy of Frank!

Deuce's first visit to a beach. He really enjoyed the sand. In fact, he enjoyed it so much he wouldn't stop eating it.

Loved the sand - happy pug here.

Not so happy now...

Happy again - caught in the act of the pugtona. Ears back, tail tucked under, action shot!

Sue Frank David, me and the puglet on a picnic with beautiful views across the island.

Treasure Island

2007-04-09T08:56:00.000Z

back from a great weekend in the isle of wight. Deuce saw his first beach, heard his first wave crash, ran for the first time into the sea, and first easter egg (doggy carob) Lots of firsts! He also was on a ferry for the first time...

We drove down from London on Friday, and caught the ferry over to see David's folks. It was a gorgeous sunny day, so we sat outside on the top deck with Deuce (all dogs are relegated to the top deck, boo) who was entranced by the wash the ferry was making (that made me nervous - he fit easily through the railing bars) and spent a fair bit of time with his head through the bars looking down. There were a load of other dogs on the ferry - a very yappy and vicious sounding yorkie was holding fort in the sheltered area.

We arrived to David's parent's place, and unloaded the car. Deuce's cage went into a cubby in the kitchen, and we took him into the garden to run around. He loved it! I really can't wait to get a proper garden, it will be so nice to sit in the sun and deuce can do the pugtona to his little monkeyheart's content. We went to a nopug pub after dinner for a couple of drinks, then headed back to let the little one out for his nighttime ablutions, then to bed.

Saturday morning David got up early as he was worried about not being able to hear deuce get up. The little one however was tuckered out from the previous day and was sound asleep when david went down. nonetheless he indulged david and got up to do his morning rounds. David, S&F and I took Deuce to the beach, where he ran around in the sand, got to grips (sort of) with the sea and waves, and I got drenched while trying to entice deuce into the water (serves me right!). At one point I took off my socks and shoes as I thought he might be less freaked if I was also playing in the (ice cold) water. Turns out he is cleverer than I give him credit for -my feet were threatening to turn blue, but deuce happily pranced on the beach just out of reach of the lapping waves. I took my cue and got out of the water sharpish. I wonder if he'll like it better in the summer?

We wandered back to the car and then drove up to a hill where we unpacked our picnic and headed up for some stunning views of the island. Deuce was obsessed with rabbit poo (ie trying to eat them. Ugh) We stopped for a picnic lunch and some photo ops (and video) we headed back with a pit stop at a lovely pub beside a little stream for some hot choc (me) tea (Sue), and beer (the boys). Then back to the house for some r&r before dinner.

David's brother Steven was also there, and made us spag bol for dinner. Deuce played around in the garden, biting off the heads of the dandelions and daisies, and eating grass (?) which he seemed to really enjoy.

D, S& I went to catch Blades of Glory at the cinema in the evening - another great Ferrell (feral?) movie. I laughed so hard I was snorting. Will have to watch it again.

Sunday D's grandma came to visit - Deuce was so spoilt - lots of attention there and he gave D's grandma a whole lotta of kisses! we exchanged Easter Eggs, even Deuce got an doggy carob easter egg from D's grandma (though he didn't quite know what to do with it). He got to nap in Sue's lap, Frank fed him lots of yum yums (I came into the kitchen to find drops of cream ont he floor in front of his cage and deuce's face covered in little drops of the white stuff, and deuce looking extremely contented!). We went for a really nice walk around Carisbrook castle - deuce showed that his little legs can go quite fast, and can even do steep hills with relative ease! I was impressed. He's a strong little thing. We came upona little ford, and I was a bit mean and went over to the other side and called out to Deuce, who ran towards me, found himself belly deep in water and ran back to David. He figured out the bridge quite quickly and opted for that the second time around. Still - the water didn't seem to bother him too much. I hope he will be up for a summer by the coast!

We also stopped off at Pets at Home, a new pet shop in Newport. Got him a 100 pack of training pads, some more of the magic stuff (simple solution which thank god we didn't need to use at S&Fs), a flexi lead for jogging (with david), marrow, hmm can't remember what else. Oh, I remember - a nail clipper. I tried to use it and he yelped. Poor thing. wiLL be returning that and sticking to the dremel.

I think he likes having his ears cleaned. If I stick a cotton ball in his ear he stops moving and starts doing his purr/snores which he does when he's enjoying something/relaxed.

He now is in true need of a bath, which he will get today. We're off to meet Max later today for lunch, and for a run around Hyde Park.

Easter!

2007-04-06T07:02:00.000Z

Last night we went to B & P's place for dinner - Deuce was all excited and ran around with ADD for a good couple of hours. Took him out to the pavement to do his business, and ran into a young guy on his bike, didn't know what Deuce was (asked me, is he vicious?). Deuce was barking at him, but then when he tried to pet Deuce, Deuce got distracted by the cheese in my pocket and totally ignored him! Good thing too - the guy had two pitbulls and a staffi (at home) and was going on about how sweet they were except when they were guarding and bit some guy who looked at his mom weird. Pit bulls here are on the dangerous dogs list and are not allowed to be sold or bred - and he'd had pit bull puppies! Huh? Can we say F R E A K ? I shuffled slowly away, careful not to make any sudden movements....

Sigh. Some people.

We're off to Isle of Wight today to visit D's folks! Yay!

Happy Easter all!

Yum Yums

2007-04-01T06:53:00.000Z

That's what I say when we feed Deuce - those two words make his eyeballs open so wide I'm afraid they are gonna pop out, and then he runs whining into the kitchen jumping and twirling around, then back to the sofa, then back to the kitchen. He makes me laugh.

So little J - my thoughts on feeding? Are you ready? This is going to be long (winded!) :).

I looked into BARF (raw meat) and home cooked, spoke to vets, holistic vets, dog nutritionists, and came up with a whole lot of confusion. Vets contradicted each other, though one vet actually told me they are not allowed to recommend raw feeding which would explain alot. I asked her a number of questions which gave some interesting feed back - lots of dogs come in with food poisoning, but the majority have nothing to do with raw feeding (more like eating poo in the park and varioius other gross things), lots of dogs get obstructions in their throats/stomachs, some are bone, some are rawhide, some are random things they ingest (bottle caps, underwear, etc). I should have asked her why it was they are not allowed to recommend, but I wasn't quite on the ball with that one. Ah well. Vet nurses told me I had to feed kibble or I would be harming my dog, a holistic vet told me I should only feed raw otherwise as kibble would harm my dog. I spoke to a dog nutritionist who recommends homeprepared food, and have a book by a DVM qualified author recommended (via his book) home prepared food (Dr Pitcairn, Strombeck).

So I did what I do when confronted with a myriad of varying opinions - I researched.

Firstly I found that there is no official qualification required of 'animal nutrionists', no overall governing body, people seem to come either from university courses with nutritional components (mostly aimed at ruminants), or holistic style vocational course with 'certificates'. I have a problem with both these - the first being that in looking into university courses on companion animal nutrition, (I am thinking of taking a course) I found a number of these are funded/sponsored by Purina, Iams etc. It is hard not to wonder how independent the research really is as a result - kind of like having Marlborough funding a study into whether or not cigarettes harm your health - would you rely on it 100% or take it with a pinch of salt? Maybe the scientists involved cannot be faulted, but the entire enterprise would cause me to wonder at the objectivity and ethics of it. I have found a number of 'colleges' that offer companion animal nutrition, but the ones that are the most 'official' are only certified/accredited by animal behaviour training groups. I did find someone with a DVM and PhD, and that would be Dr Richard Pitcairn who graduated from the University of California, Davis vet school, then did his Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology and immunology at Washington State University. And he recommends real food for dogs. But still, from my perspective, i wanted to feed Deuce 'real food' but still had concerns I would be hurting Deuce (eg missing out on nutrients) by not kibble/factory produced food. So my main burning question became not should I feed real food or kibble, but rather what actually are the nutritional requirements of a dog? This was the one thing that was a common theme in everyone's pronouncement on feeding dogs normal food at home: the nutritional balance of it all. No it isn't too hard to do (a vet nurse told me it would be very difficult to achieve the right balance, but then couldn't tell me what that balance was. hmph), but it takes a little research.

The AAFCO produces a list of required min and max amounts of nutrients dogs require (http://www.petguide.org/dogfoodnutrients.htm). This is what all commercial dog food producers reference on their dog food (I think these are the parameters they are required by law to follow). I read that actually different dogs have different nutritional requirements, and that the AAFCO list which sort of good for generic application, is not so great for individual breeds as eg some dogs have lower tolerance for certain vit s and minerals whilst other dogs have higher tolerance. Still, the chap who wrote this didn't seem to base his findings on much other than historical geographical location (eg pugs are from tibet area, therefore should eat yak and millet). But it does make you think - pugs are different from say, afghans, or greyhounds. Different build, different size, different energy. It would make sense that energy requirements and say, calcium requirements for bone size and density would be different. But that was too much for me even. I reasoned that if commercial pet food is based on AAFCO and applies a one size fits all approach, then homefood with the min/max AAFCO requirements should also work for Deuce. I looked up all the stuff in the list, it's all amino acids and proteins, which I cross referenced to normal everyday food and found that a varied diet of liquified veggies (with certain no-nos, like rhubarb and onions) and fruits (again no grapes, no apple pips) should deal with most of the vits and minerals, whole sardines (tinned) and fish and cooked egg deal with the EFAs, and protein of some sort deals with the protein bit. A human grade pet multivitamin ensures things like iodine and selenium were incorporated. The only thing missing was calcium.

We can't get bonemeal here (legacy of the mad cow disease), so on Dr Pitcairn's advice I use a calcium supplement ground up to the amounts recommended and now have switched to ground egg shells I do at home from freerange organic eggs (about 1/4 tsp equivalent to 600mg of calcium a day for a puppy Deuce's size).

A few words on BARF - I did some research into this and came up with:1) Dogs, while related to wolves, are not wolves and should therefore not be fed on a diet for wolves (pretty obvious really). Similar DNA, but people DNA is similar to chimp DNA and you don't see nutritionists pushing bugs and worms on us as the ultimate food (though just you wait, i'm sure it will become a trend one day). 2) Wild wolves live shorter lives than wolves in captivity that are fed a controlled diet. 3) Pets are domesticated, have been for 100,000 years approx, and logically ought to have proper enzymes to eat both cooked and raw foods (in fact before the invention of commercial pet food in the late 1800s, that is just what they ate). But again, not having fabulously extensive fact based referenced material it is kind of hard to get anywhere. I did however find that looking at BARF diet and the actual recommended nutrients for dogs that the diet fell short.

So, kibble to me is evil of all evils, and with the recent food recalls (wheat gluten? Since when do dogs chow down on stalks of wheat? More like cheap filler= more profit for pet food companies) am so so happy we went down the food instead of dried rabbit poo path. With meats, I compromised. Anything I would eat rare, I feed raw (beef, lamb, sushi grade salmon, though am careful with that because of heavy lead contamination). Anything I wouldn't touch raw with a ten food pole (eg poultry) I cook. He gets organs once a week No bones. No rawhide. Deuce tends to swallow stuff without chewing and he has choked on chicken jerky treats (given by a friend, not me!) and i had to stick my fingers in to get it out. I'm getting him an antler when we're in the US as apparently that is a great and safe thing for dogs to chew on, gives them calcium with the right phosphorous ratio, lasts long and best of all doesn't smell awful (try sniffing a bully stick/bull's pizzle - dried up bull penis!!).

Okay long and rambling.... but in a nutshell:

Get Dr Pitcairn's Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, and Strombeck's is good reference too (Homemade meals I think is the title). Pitcairn is clearer and easier to follow. Kymothy Shultz's book is also good reference as it tells you things dogs should not eat (grapes, rhubarb in any form, onions, chocolate - all toxic to dogs). I don't however feed him wheat or corn. Sometimes quinoa, but i found it made his poop really bulky and smelly.

Get a really good pet vitamin. Usually the organic ones tend to be human grade and better absorbed.

Use your blender! We feed 1/3 protein, 2/3 liquidised veggies/fruit. And he really loves it. And once you have the vits and the calcium it really doesn't take very long to sort.

I'll post this now as am heading out for the day, but will reread it this evening to make sure it makes sense!

Little nutbar

2007-03-30T06:44:00.000Z

Deuce is eating like he's starving! His concentration is unwavering, and he basically works really hard to inhale is food and then make sure he licks all the surface of his bowl to catch every last bite. I wonder if he's going through a growth spurt. He also now belches after every meal. Nice.

He is looking very lean - i guess his walks in the park have made him nice and fit. He likes to sit on the arm of the sofa, looking at himself in the mirror (which is next to the sofa, at sofa arm height). I wonder what he's thinking?

My cousin in Montreal is about to get a Jindo - very exciting! He's a rescue, named Fuji. White and sweet. May the journey to them from the US be smooth!

Home sweet home

2007-03-29T07:47:00.000Z

Back from a long weekend skiing in the Trois Vallees (Meribel valley to be precise). AMAZING!! Coming from Calgary, where we are spoiled for mountains, the 12 hour trek to the alps was a bit of a bummer, but it was actually a pretty smooth trip. We could not have asked for better conditions - snow at night, sun during the day, gorgeous slopes with squeaky snow. Bliss. AND man, the whole ski to the village thing is AWESOME. Chalet restaurants everywhere, mulled wine at all, creperies. mmmm. Can't wait to go again and little Deuce can come too! Loads of pups wandering around with their owners. Not sure what they do with their dogs whilst skiing, but the dogs seemed happy enough.

Kept texting london to check on the monkey. Deuce apparently was wonderful with Cleone and Suze (who had him on the weekend). Didn't wake up at 6 (was sleeping happily with Max, another dog Cleone was taking care of) until 730. I think we need a second dog!! Played happily, ate well... am happy he was so easy, but there is a tiny bit of me that wishes he pined and was difficult. The upshot is: He didn't miss me!!! I went to pick him up yesterday from Cleone's, and he actually didn't want to come. Turns out he wasn't feeling so hot (puked a little while after he got home, I think he ate some fruity candy or something), so that kind of explains it. (He's okay though, he actually was munching on his puke (bleh) and then ate some cheese and wolfed down his supper, so must have just been something he ate.) I suppose it is the best kind of worry to have - that my dog prefers his walker to me... sigh. Still, the heart pangs a little.

He's on the sofa chasing his tail, trying to stay still and make a surprise attack. His tail is long enough for him to get it now, but it is funny, he goes around and around in circles. I guess he isn't the brightest thing but oh! how he makes up for it in character!

*Skip*
Deuce's toilet habits are getting considerably better. He's gotten the hang of going potty outside, which is great. We haven't used the litter box since last week now (though admittedly he's been at Cleone's for the most of the week!) so we're seeing how it goes with just the training pads down for emergencies!

Sleep overs

2007-03-21T08:43:00.000Z

Cleone's just left with Deuce, and I realise I am really really sad. I understand now that the way people say 'oh you won't be able to go anywhere as you'll be tied to the dog' is true but not in the way they think. It isn't that I wish I could go but can't as am somehow trapped by the dog, it's more that, actually I wish I wasn't going as I am really going to miss him. Boo.

He's been good with going outside, and he's doing a great transition. His little teeth are growing in, and he is quite playful still, though when he's bored he tends to be naughty (pulling on the rug, stealing my boots to play with), which is bad but it is so funny when he does it. And he def has started knowing between being good and being naughty - he was standing on the sofa arm, and I can't remember why I called him but he lept from the sofa arm into the middle of the sofa, and sort of stood there poised to run if needed. It was a funny reaction, a guilty reaction. It made me laugh, so i chased him around a little and let him chase me around a little, then did his favourite tummy rub which makes him stretch out like a hare running at top speed.

Be back on Sunday. Enjoy your weekends!

Down the hatch

2007-03-19T23:06:00.000Z

Minor crisis this morning. David normally wakes up to tend to Deuce's early morning ablutions, then lets Deuce into the bedroom and Deuce runs up to my side of the bed and jumps up tail wagging ears back, all excited. This morning, he ran up to my side of the bed and vomited. Poor thing. i managed to maneouvre a book under him in the nick of time (which by a stroke of luck was well laminated... wipe clean magic here). He didn't want his breakfast, which truly alarmed me. This is a dog who does circles and runs from the kitchen to the sofa in warpspeed mode in an attempt to circumvent the time space continuum so he can be fed sooner. I was worried.

Took him to the vet, forgetting my keys in the house and my oyster card (my tube travelcard that means I pay only £1.50 a trip rather than £3). Sigh. Left him there after a cursory examination, so that they could keep him under observation. All was fine, I think he must have hoovered up something off last night (he puked up bits of his pero organic chicken biscuit. No more of those). The vet gave him some special 'sensitive' food. I looked at the ingredients. Meat & animal derivatives (huh?), veggie derivatives (double huh?) rice, cereal (ugh, what other kind of cereal please?). Bleh.

If you are of delicate constitution, please do not read on!

One of my friends is rather scatalogically inclined. She has regular colonics, and talk about her bowel movements in excruciating detail. Still, one thing I have picked up is what healthy poop should be like. Human ones should be a nice honey colour, good and firm, and float in the loo. No sticky mess, no dark scary plops, and apparently, if you are digesting and eating properly, they should not smell bad.

Now, Deuce, he's had this sensitive food for lunch and again for dinner. Normally his poops are not very smelly, are firm and don't stain the pavement. ie, we can pick it up in one piece, and it keeps its shape without of course being scary firm. We noticed his friend Max, who's been on a special diet prescribed by the vet, has had the most stinky poops of the most awful consistency. really wet and sticky (he pooped in grass and it was all... well, let's just say it was quite like dropping a glob of melted peanut butter in the grass. not easy to pick up) and had a godawful stench. I actually retched when I had to pick up after him. And, not surprisingly, his food itself is also quite smelly. Deuce's most recent post dinner poop took after Max's, and was smelly and soft too. So back onto the regular stuff tomorrow morning. He's going to have some lamb with sweet potato and pureed veggies. I can't stand the smell of liver pate poops.

He seems to be back in good spirits again sleeping in his bed now.

Weekend was nice- Saturday Deuce hung out with David as I was out with a girlfriend, whilst Sunday we spent with Max wandering around Ken Gardens. A relaxing weekend!

Oh - and there is a recall on some wet food. Quite scary really - something about some wheat gluten being introduced to a wet dog and cat food, and a bunch of pets dying of renal failure. Really awful. But frankly there is something wrong in having food churned out in tins anyways, but you all probably know my position on this so I won't harp on about it! Besides, it's bed time for me now too.. Deuce'll be up in 7 hours and I need my beauty sleep!

indignant

2007-03-16T07:33:00.000Z

oh i totally forgot! On Tuesday morning before work I took deuce for a gander round Ken Gardens. An older woman with her black dog was there, and the dogs did the snifftroductions. Only a could seconds into it, the dog bit deuce!

I was shocked and picked him up. At the time i wasn't angry so much as surprised. Deuce cried, which meant it hurt. The woman said oh - it's because she's a bitch and yours is a dog. WTF? He's a less than 5 month old puppy who spends his time with other dogs. And then she claimed hers only mouthed him. Well, thinking back this incenses me. Deuce yelped like he was being given an injection so it was clearly a bite. she was not apologetic at all. Stupid woman. antisocial pychopathic dogs should be on a lead with a muzzle, and so clearly should their owners.

Deuce is now lying on my hands and the laptop, i htink he also wants to express his anger and hurt. oh, no, he's merely trying to have a nap.

Pug Tooth Fairy

2007-03-16T07:10:00.000Z

My camera is buggered, so there won't be any pictures until i get it fixed. Bummer. Deuce spat out 2 teeth on Tuesday, and another one on Wednesday. They are so wee - he basically chewed on them awhile. He doesn't seem to want to chew on anything but I suspect that he will when they start growing in.

He's been good and bad. He's getting into a rhythm of doing his business outside in the morning, which is great. But he's also slipped a little and peed on the floor a few times. Just randomly! It's so weird. I hope he doesn't pee like that at Cleone's. We're being a little more vigilant and restricting him just a wee bit more. Thankfully he's been okay the past few days!

I've noticed that Deuce actually demands attention now. If I'm walking, and not paying attention to him on the lead (eg chatting with a friend, or on the mobile), he won't walk with me. Only when I really interact with him does he start to walk nicely. Last night we wouldn't walk with David at all! Only wanted to head back to Cleone's. :( I hope he doesn't prefer her to us!!!

Next Wednesday we are going away for four days and four nights. He's staying with Cleone until Friday, then Sooze (who he's been out with before and seems to really like) will take him for the weekend. Am nervous about going away, not because I fear anything will happen to him. I totally trust Cleone & her team, and Deuce loves hanging with them because, well, he has great decrepid smelly toys for him to play with (the smellier and more decrepid the better), and has loads of dogs he can run around with. Well, that's more why I'm nervous! what if I come back and he doesn't like us anymore??? Sigh.

Deer Poops

2007-03-11T16:30:00.001Z

We're thankful for many things - for my job that gives me enough flexibility to have a dog in the first place, for my fiance who gave in to the idea of having a dog (and now is secretly happy we do), for Deuce who is such a character, David is probably thankful we now spend way more time in pubs, which he loves, because pubs are dog friendly, and we spend our weekends on long walks, another thing David really enjoys and which I was never so good at (except when it involved long walks in town, or rather, longs stops in shops with intervals of short walks...)

Another thing I really appreciate is the feeling of being part of the fabric of the city. I never really felt a part of London, I mean, I didn't feel an outcast or anything, just that I had my own little bubble in which I happily lived. Having a pug somehow has expanded that bubble - so many people are pug lovers, or interested in pugs, and so many people are happy to stop and chat, or just play with Deuce. We really feel like there is this unspoken club, in which membership only requires a pug. Yesterday David and I took Deuce down to Battersea Park for a stroll. We bumped into a lady with a minidaschund that we recognized from the Elizabeth Street Vet. Then as we crossed back over Chelsea Bridge a guy in a cement mixer lorry turned the corner and blared his horn. We looked up to see a black guy staring at us, smiling maniacally. At first we were confused, but then he pointed at his dog - a black pug, with his head hanging out the window, an equally crazed and contented smile with his tongue flapping in the wind. I looked at Deuce, who of course was oblivious to the commotion and intently concentrating on some blades of grass growing betwen the paving stones, and gave the driver a huge smile and a thumbs up. The connection made both of us laugh - only another pug owner would honk for a pug! i tell you, there is something slightly crazed about pug owners that I just love.

I think this group expands further than London - witness the visits on the clustr maps and the fact I have met a load of really lovely pugs - Meimei, Miko, Django, Zelda & Winston, Giggs, Viv Lee, Max, Ayatollah Mugsy - and their peeps - Amanda & Jerry, LMizzle & Steve, Christine (x2), Kat, all because we share a love of pugs! so Honk if you love Pugs! ;)

Today Max is spending the day with us for some pug play while Kat is at work. We were meant to head to Guilford to visit a friend of David's, but unfortunately the friend had to cancel as his mom is ill. We took Deuce & Max instead to Richmond Park. Beautiful day for it - sunny and clear and warm. We bundled the two furbies into the back seat (Max in his own car seat) and headed to the park. We wandered down from the park, along the Thames visiting our old stomping grounds. Lunch was at Stein's, a German caf (specialising in wurst and sauerkraut), then a wander along the River down to Ham House, with a brief stop at Petersham Nurseries to continue the German theme with homemade black forest cake. Jawohl! Lecker! Deuce and Max were pretty tuckered out at the end of it (it was a 5 hour epic walk.. well, with a pit stop for lunch and cake). I thought they'd get home and sleep, but Deuce is intent on playing with Max, who is wrestling him down and pinning Deuce on his back. Deuce doesn't seem to mind at all, always going back for more.

Ah he did do a really gross thing today - Richmond Park has deer, and lots of deer poop. Before I could stop him Deuce grabbed a poop pellet in his mouth and as I chased him, the little monkey swallowed it! Bleh. Well, he's getting his wormer at the end of the week and his tick/flea dose so hopefully no gross parasites will pass through to Deuce.

The boys are currently playing on the sofa, rather, deuce is on his back pawing at Max to play with him. Max pretty much indulges him, sometimes ignoring and sometimes giving in. I have caught Deuce licking Max on his willy - yeugh!!! Now that is kind of disturbing.

I think Deuce is in love with Max. When he likes someone, he likes to sit touching a part of your body. He often parks his bum on my foot, I guess so he'll be the first to know if I go anywhere. Same with Max. He likes to be where Max is, and when he lies down next to him, I notice he likes to lie on one of Max's legs, or have a foot touching Max.

Look closely - Deuce's front left paw, under Max.

I hope they nap soon - am dying for one myself!

Delurking!

2007-03-09T08:34:00.000Z

Hello my dear readers! I've been peeking at the visitor locations on my clustr map. I would absolutely love for you to say a quick hello! as I've spied visitors from Beijing (ni hao!), Scandinavian countries (hej hej hur laget?), South Africa, somewhere that looks like it could be Dubai, loads of visitors from the green and pleasant lands (I might break into a rendition of Jerusalem here!), the US, I think Thailand or Malaysia, Oz, India, and of course, nearest and dearest to my heart, Canada and good ol' Calgary!

I'm also curious as to what pugs are called in your country - particularly in Chinese! Are they habagou, or just pagu? Have we lost the original name for pugs? Do Tibetans have a name for them? I know in Europe they are Mops and Carlin (in French), but not sure what they're called in Italy or anywhere else.

If you're a pug owner, tell me also about your pug! Love reading about them, and of course, making a huge list of potential friends for Deuce once he's a little more mobile.

So Delurk! And introduce yourselves! :)

Nubbins

2007-03-07T19:23:00.000Z

He lost his 6th front tooth on the right today. The other is still hanging in there.

Spent the afternoon with Cleone. I had stopped feeding him his lunchtime meal last week, but he seemed to be getting too skinny this weekend, so have started his lunch meal again. He's so active, he needs his food.

Pooped and peed on his way home. What a good little puglet!

Colleagues at work today were laughing - I was talking about Deuce teething, and they said, if they hadn't of met Deuce, they would have thought I was talking about a toddler!

More teeth! Or, rather, less teeth!

2007-03-06T22:16:00.000Z

Just looking into Deuce's mouth, he's lost the little teeth either side of his two eye teeth, and the two little nubbins on either side of those teeth are loose and looking to fall out very soon. His bottom teeth in the front have all gone (when? when? how did i miss that?) and are already growing in. Still nothing on the canines, though I can see the one starting to push in... the other is quite firmly in place.

He is so zonked out today - fell asleep on the sofa, and didn't care that I was looking into his mouth and checking out his teeth, or dremelling his claws.

Pugplay

2007-03-06T20:30:00.000Z

This morning I dropped D off with Kat, who was working a late shift at her spa. Deuce spent the day going on walks with K and Max by the river. Embarassingly, he peed on her sofa (eek!) but she was gracious and forgiving. Sigh. Again blessings to be given to the magic enzyme. I picked him up after work at her spa, i think he was very happy to see me. He skipped (seriously! it is so cute when he does it) for a bit. We met a wiry daschund called Hopy who was being taken for the evening by myidealpuppy, a local dog training company.

To return the favour, we're taking Max out this Sunday for a romp in the country, or a long walk in ken gardens, depending on the weather!

Play dates

2007-03-05T21:14:00.000Z

Max and Kat came over tonight for some spag bol (spaghetti bolognaise for short) and some intense play time with Deuce! Deuce was rather overexcited and managed to pee on the carpet - no great shakes really since it's not the first time, and probably won't be the last time! All i can say is thank god for Simple Solutions magic enzyme bacteria spray - just breaks it all down into water and something else... anyways something that doesn't stink like pee. Max and Deuce played for a few hours, Deuce like the little brother who continually pesters his big brother. If Max was standing up waiting for a treat, Deuce would get inthere and try to elbow his way to the front. If Max was up on the sofa, Deuce was up there too. Very much like space invaders! Credit to Max for being patient and indulgent.

Kat told me that the doggy shop in Notting Hill (Mutz Nutz) was robbed. The owner and her mom were in the shop, and two guys came in, held them up, stole their till contents, their jewellery, then took the mom out and beat her up. When we were there on Sat they had the door locked and we had to ask them to let us in and then to let us out. Poor things. I respect their determination to be in the shop and keep it open. It would have been a really horrible and traumatic experience.

Deuce continues to make bizarre noises - he sounds like a squeaky toy and a cat rolled into one. I think he has a 'wry mouth', his tongue hangs out even when it's closed. Actually, he has a really long tongue now - it's kind of freaky. An inkspot of black, with a bright pink tongue.

He's tuckered out now, nuzzling his head into his donut. asleep like the little piglet he is!

Growth Spurt

2007-03-04T18:28:00.000Z

A week gone by - we're adjusting to his schedule, and he to ours. Mornings are still early - usually around 630 7 but no longer 530 (thank goodness!). Deuce's front two teeth fell out last weekend, but now he already has little nubbins replacing them, though his right canine has still not come through.

We regularly see his little friend Max and owner Kathleen, this past Wed eve we went to Kat's, Deuce and Max played until they both fell asleep! Deuce really enjoys his play sessions with Max - he will often grab a toy and run around in front of Max trying to entice him into a game of tug of war. Max is indulgent and lets Deuce have his way (being bigger he could easily just sit on Deuce to get his way, but he doesn't, bless). When they play, Deuce is just ecstatic. He's catching up in size though - he used to come up to Max's belly, but now he is fast getting to be the same height. I have a feeling, based on the size of Deuce's paws, that he's going to be slightly bigger than Max when he finishes growing.

I've had a terrible cold, which has meant early nights resulting in early mornings for the puglet. We've decided to get a walker 4 times a week instead of 3, as his energy levels have absolutely shot through the roof and he seemed always to be full of beans. Now he has Mon Wed and Thurs afternoon play outings with Cleone (Mon with Millie), and Friday all day with Cleone (one big walk in the morning, and a play outing in the afternoon). He is a fit little pug! Yesterday we walked from home up through Kensington Gardens to Notting Hill, and back, and the puglet still had energy when we got home. I think it was like 6 miles return. This morning we took him to Battersea Park for a stroll around. His recall is way better - amazing how much a little piece of chicken can do! The one thing he has started to do that I am a little concerned about is his penchant for barking - he sees David in the morning and will bark until David says hi. He does the same to other dogs in the park!

He's growing up - bigger now, and also more of a personality. When he gets up in the morning, he will move, one by one, each of his toys from his pen out into his donut (which sits in the middle of the living room). Once he's got two or three of them in there, he'll get in and sleep on them. We noticed him doing this regularly for about a week now. He's taken to crawling into our laps now in the evening to sleep. Very endearing.

Hanging in his donut.

I meant to post this earlier - his Aunt Eg from NY brought him a hoodie to look tough in Ken Gardens. It's great for his park exursions as it keeps him warm and dry. Also gives him a bit of bad attitude!

He's also much more of an adventurer. He likes to climb and explore. Deuce can now fly onto the couch without a hitch, and has figured out how to fly off (his jumps are worthy of agility prizes!). He can also go down the stairs, which is a new thing for him as well. He tends to do hilarious cat meow/roars when going down. Evenings when we sit on the sofa, Deuce comes and sleeps next to us. He's currently sleeping on the sofa next to me as I type, freshly bathed. He was starting to smell too much like wet dog. Here's one of his expeditions into the French straw bag.

And after a big day - plum tuckered out next to his teddy.

Ah and have also got myself a blender! Meaning making his food is waaaaay easier. A chopping board, a knife the ingredients and the blender. The concoctions that out smell pretty good - am always tempted to have some myself!

Last Friday night I took Deuce to Melissa's for a girl's night in. Of course, was super worried that he'd do his business on her carpets, or worse, on her Turkish rugs, but he was a doll. He behaved like a gentleman and took himself off to his toilet area to do his business, then spent the rest of the time playing with the girls, at the end falling asleep in his donut.

Baby No Teeth

2007-02-25T09:06:00.000Z

I think Deuce is teething - looking into his mouth yesterday he had lost one of his eye teeth and one of his canines. The eye tooth looked as if it had been ripped out - rather red and raw. I thought maybe it had been ripped out... but a few hours later I checked his mouth again and his other eye tooth had come out too! Little no front teeth. He seems happy and not in any discomfort. Froze one of his chew toys and he seemed to really like that.

Yesterday we had an old friend over for dinner - who was smitten with the monkey. Deuce however was too tired to get up to his usual hijinks- he'd been on an epic walk with David to the park and back and was just really sleepy!

Today a wander to the park again and a visit to a friend's place. Should be fun.

*Skip*
Oh got juiced again - just a wee bit. But have incorporated sweet potatoes into his diet to bulk up his stool - please let this stop the leak!

Golden Showers

2007-02-22T20:35:00.000Z

I wasn't sure it would happen to me - I'd read about it on other blogs.... but it did. Deuce peed on me.

It was my fault, I knew he had to go, took him to the hairsalon and had him in my lap. He was antsy, I thought I should take him out but decided to flick through a US mag first. Damn my curiosity! Damn US magazine for having Brangelina gossip! A warm burst, I flew out of my chair and took him outside where he unleashed the rest of Niagara Falls. Ah well. Thank god for small blessings - his natural diet meant his pee was very dilute, not smelly, and more like water than anything else. Still. I sat through 3 hours of hair cuts etc with a big wet patch on my jeans!

Deuce is currently munching through a dog cookie (LMizzle - maybe you can try them - organic chicken by Pero?). He really likes them, and leaves chunks on the floor like a little treasure trail for dessert. Been crazy today - running around like a pug on speed. He can now jump on and off the sofa. He flies off the sofa. I need to get him a little helmet for his Evil Knevil stunts.

Year of the Golden Pug

2007-02-18T19:17:00.000Z

It's been a quiet week - I've been sick with a bizarre honking cough, poor little Deuce neglected somewhat. Sarah came by to pick him up on Monday, and Suze came by Wed Thur and Fri.

Friday morning Deuce's aunt Eg arrived from New York, with a fetching "I LOVE NY" hoodie. Deuce pranced around in his new hoodie, and made himself comfortable on Eg's feet. Saturday we all went out to Borough Market - Deuce there for the first time. He spent most of it sleeping in his carrier bag. We went to Hope & Anchor for a pub lunch, Deuce again slept in my lap. We went home, fed Deuce and we all had a family nap.

Luigi & his girlfriend Mabbi met us in Kensington Gardens, so we had a long walk up to the Elfin Oak then around to the Albert Memorial, then back to our place. Deuce has really gotten stronger and enjoyed his walking so much more. He peed midstride, which was a first!

Kat & Max came over in the evening for a few hours of fun, Deuce chasing Max around like a little shadow. He slept really well and didn't get up until 7 am this morning!

Today we spent the afternoon lounging around the house - David's taken him out for a car ride (we need to move the car since the congestion zone charging starts tomorrow, and moving the car after 630am incurs a huge penalty unless we pay £8 for the privilege of being able to drive the car!) and a little walk around the block.

Happy Chinese New Year! It's actually the year of the Fire Pig (aka Golden Pig) so best wishes to you all. Gongxi facai!

Butt Juice

2007-02-10T15:56:00.000Z

*skip*

yes. I was juiced today. Sitting at puppy class, wondering where the rotting/fishy smell was coming from. Turns out there was a little wet spot on my jumper. Smelled it, and found the source of the offending odour.

So. I had been slack this week with the puglet's veggies this week, and his flax seed. Had noticed he'd been making only little corkscrew poops. Went out and got him a bag of veggies and liquidized them. Now going to be religious with his flaxseed too. Ew. I don't want to be juiced again!

Sixteen Week Rooster

2007-02-10T10:32:00.000Z

Both David and I have the flu. The week has been grim, with me at home the whole week, and David at home half the week. Deuce's Monday walker was also sick, so her walk was a little shorter than normal. Here I am worried that he'll be lonely and bored at home, but it turns out that he sleeps pretty much from 8 am to about lunchtime, eats his lunch, the plays for an hour before falling asleep again. Thank goodness he gets some exercise on a weekly basis! His Wed/Fri walker Cleone went to Burma on Friday for a couple weeks, so Suze came on Friday instead. Deuce was happy as Larry to go off with her for the afternoon.

This morning was Deuce's last puppy class with Dog Hollow. It's quite a boost being told how unusual he is in learning how to sit and lie down (apparently pugs aren't well known for this). I'm not sure that is right though - all the pugs I've met so far will pretty much do anything if it involves a treat at the end of it. It's raining, so we'll probably not go out to the park unless it clears up. The sight of a wet pavement gets Deuce jumping up to be held.

We're coming to find Deuce quite a finicky dog. He drinks daintily, and this morning because his litter tray had two big pees in it (he won't use it if it isn't pretty clean), he ended up pooping in front of it instead. Then cried and cried until David went in and cleaned it up. Then he stopped crying and went to sleep! Nice. If only life were that simple for the rest of us!

He's now sixteen weeks old! Growing so quickly. Four months is coming up....his aunti Eg is coming to visit from NY, and my cousin Christine. all next week for Chinese New Year!

Strangers & Friends

2007-02-04T17:51:00.000Z

Saturday's pug meet up was well attended - 20 to 30 pugs with their owners, and some hangers on. Deuce was def more into the people than the other pugs, though he recognised Ruby and they played quite a bit - I think they may be getting to be friends! I was a little disturbed by the number of strangers who picked him up, but thankfully they were all really friendly. Since the meet up is in Green Park, there is a lot of footfall, and a lot of tourists stop to take photos.

Deuce with Toby and another pug (the one with a beard).

This morning we got up early, and headed up to Notting Hill to visit K's new spa. Deuce came along and went for a walk round the neighbourhood.

We stopped by this Chinese statue, and thought Deuce might like a picture with his ancestor.

Showing who's top dog.

We walked by a window with a mechanical dog nodding his head. When Deuce saw it, he started to bark and hop around trying to get the dog to play with him. He doesn't seem to do this to real dogs but he does the play bow and hopping around when he sees himself in the mirror, and when he saw this dog.

Making friends.

In the car.

We then met up with my goddaughter, and Barb & Paul in Kensington Gardens at the Diana Memorial playground (which I had never noticed before). Sophia, who started walking around outside about a month ago, toddled around walking and pointing at her red wellies, and sticking her finger out for Deuce to lick. They were very cute together. Deuce ran around, Sophia danced a bit then fell asleep in her buggy. We all went off to a local pub, where both Sophia & Deuce slept soundly.

Home now, then out again in a few hours to meet up with K and Max, and Monchi (who I found out lives in the same complex as K & Max) for an evening stroll.

*Skip*
Oh - I just cleaned Deuce's nose fold - there was alot of crud in there. No wonder he's been pawing at his nose! How often do you clean pug's folds? It's now nice and clean in there - as is he. He had a bath last night (and a half of one this morning - he'd pooped in his crate and sort of rolled in it. Bleh). So mostly he smells lovely and sweet!

Trendline

2007-02-03T08:22:00.000Z

I've plotted Deuce's growth on a chart - I'm missing the weight from 12/1/07, but think it was around 3.2kg. Will check with the vet.

I think since he's been on the home diet with liquidised veggies (about the 2nd week of Jan), his growth has been steady and good (hopefully!). I've taken out the fillers (oats, quinoa etc) and stuck with veggies/fruit since I have read that grains were initially used as cheap filler for dog food, and that they don't really digest it anyways. Again it's hard to know whether this is true or not, since the three top books recommended (Pitcairn, Billinghurst/Lonsdale, and Strombeck) differ on this point, but I did notice his poops were quite a lot more copious when he was on grains. I figured out from the two Pitcairn and Strombeck books that a dog on 400 cals a day (though this also differs - i've read that Deuce should be on anywhere between 400 cals a day to 1500. 1500? that just can't be right, that's almost the daily intake for an adult!) needs about 600mg of additional calcium in his diet (or slightly more if it comes from bonemeal or calcium with similar phosphorous content). He gets his multi vit, and his fish/eggs/liver as well. His coat is glossy, his eyes are clear, and he's a naughty little monkey, so i guess all is well.

I did notice that his pee is quite light. Sam, Ruby's mom, was telling me that compared to Ruby, Deuce doesn't drink alot, his pee is light, whereas she is constantly thirsty and her pee is quite concentrated. She is on dry food, which is only about 5% moisture, so maybe that's why? Dunno, but that is also something the vet noticed when I had a little panic about a urinary infection. The urine tests came back fine, so I won't worry unduly.

Deuce asleep now (as always, Saturdays seem to be his day of rest!) but shortly off to his puppy class, then to pick up a mat for his new crate (exchanging it for a bigger one on Tuesday), some breakfast in the sun, and then at 2pm the london pug meet up in green park! Can't wait. Ruby will be there, and hopefully a lot more pugs than last month when it was bucketing down!

Humdinger

2007-02-02T06:27:00.001Z

Deuce got a new larger crate earlier this week.

I think it's a little small for him - fully stretched out he takes up the length of it already! So a larger size is coming on Tuesday to replace this one.

Deuce in his new Puppia harness, with his Bunny.

Last night he was crated for the first time since the first couple of days he came. In the crate around 930 for some quiet time, then to bed at 1030. He slept through to 6 am when I snuck in to wake him before he woke up (I wanted to avoid any whining or crying). He seems comfy in there.

*Skip*
Took him out front to 'do his business', since we're going to put him on schedule training (out at 6, then 830, then 12, then 3, then 6, then 9...), at least that's the theory. The 6, 830 6 and 9 slots no prob, but the 12 and 3 are pretty much dependent on Cleone and Sarah on M W Fs. Good man obliged after 5 or so minutes of sniffing leaves and running around. First a huge pee (I had to pull out a pee pad to convince him to go outside) then amazingly about 2 minutes afterwards, a poop! This is a notable event as it is the first time ever he has pooped outside. He got a jackpot of liver for that humdinger.

He is a bit naughty though. If he pees in his litter box and I don't give him a treat, he'll go back, pretend to pee, and then look at me for a treat! He's done that twice now this morning!

***
He seemed immensely pleased with himself at his achievements this morning. Strutted back into the flat, and played crazily for 15 minutes or so. Now he's immersed himself in a marrow bone - the sound of his teeth against the bone is really horrible, but it is good for his little teeth to get something hard to bite against.

You lookin' at me? Are you lookin' at me?

And god bless my marrow bone.

I've noticed Deuce slobbers more. He doesn't drool, but when he has his chops around a toy, it gets pretty wet. When he and Ruby were wrestling, the two of them looked like they'd been wrestling under a sprinkler - they were both sopping in each other's spit. Bleh. Deuce got a rub down with a towel before we left. Thankfully he doesn't drool... at least, not yet.

Some photos of our lazy Saturday morning down at the cafe! Deuce enjoying the sun, sitting in David's lap.

Enjoying the sun!

With David

Checking out the scene.

Relaxing.

and here is a random photo I found on my phone. I'm not sure where it's from. But it is cute!

Bow Meow?

2007-01-31T07:54:00.000Z

Deuce & I went over to visit S & Ruby last night. I'm not sure whether they like each other or not - they spent the whole time chasing each other and wrestling. And occassionally they would get really worked up and get tense and snappy. Then they would calm down and wander around. Tonight Max may be coming by - that'll be nice. This Sat is the pug meet up, so hopefully Deuce will have a better time with the pugs than last time when it was raining and he got bowled over by a couple of more rambunctious dogs.

I have a theory that Deuce is a little alien, sent here to spy on humans. They gave him a brief to be a dog, but I think they messed it up, and gave him the cat brief instead. Supporting evidence:
1) Deuce likes to swat things around, particularly when he's on his back and the thing is above his head
2) Deuce loves yarn. Goes nuts when he can get any
3) Deuce meows. He will sometimes do a semi bark (more a quack) but his noises are more like Yeoooows of a cat.
4) Deuce stretches like a cat - huge long stretches, when he's on his side particularly

He's got his blood tests for his rabies vacs on Friday morning. A full week ahead for the puglet.

In the eye of the beholder

2007-01-28T07:03:00.000Z

We're getting into a routine, which is great. Monday Deuce is with Sarah for a few hours midday, Wed and Friday Deuce spends the whole afternoon with Cleone. On the days following Deuce spends most of his time sleeping! Saturday is puppy class, with Deuce following us around, and Sunday is pub lunch (I always type pug lunch and have to edit, but it's probably more accurate!) to a pup friendly pub to hang out, read the paper, and Deuce gets to explore/sleep.

All the puppies are doing really well at Deuce's puppy class. It's amazing to see how the dogs are progressing. Tallulah, a wheaten terrier, is really coming along in leaps and bounds. This is the dog who on the first day spent the hour barking and growling and lunging for other dogs. Yesterday she came when called, followed well on lead, and more amazingly, sat placidly on her owner's lap. I don't think I heard her bark once! Monchi came too - the tiny shihtzu/jack russell cross, and he's found both his voice, and a whole lotta attitude! He was the one barking and lunging. Deuce is still a bit of a momma's boy - whilst the dogs were playing with each other (the huge saluki was playing with a teeny scottie, as well as taking a very submissive daschund by the throat every so often - only play biting, but still kind of alarming), he was off exporing under the chairs, or wandering around on his own. Hmmm. He does like to play with Sophie, a boston terrier, who is owned by a really cute little girl with a very sweet lisp. Her mother is a Kristin Scott Thomas look alike.

What I am continually amazed by is the friendliness of pug owners. In London, one does not speak to strangers (except perhaps to ask directions). But since we have had Deuce, every time we take him out complete strangers will come up to us on the street, men, women, seniors, students, and little kids, street cleaners, homeless guys, well to do... and talk about Deuce, or ask us how we are enjoying it, etc. It's such a nice bonus to owning Deuce. Yesterday we met a family just after leaving the puppy class. The little girls were all over Deuce - told me they had a black pug too. I had heard from the puppy class teachers that a black pug called Black Pearl lived around the corner, so I took a stab in the dark. Lo and behold! They were indeed Black Pearl's owners. The mother promptly gave me her phone number and suggested we arrange a play date. And then later on outside Baker & Spice, a nice cafe/bakery, we met Sid, a 13 year old fawn pug, and their golden aged rather posh owners (the lady was wearing a mink hat). He said that pugs are the most delightful pets. Best pets in the world, he said. With the added bonus of making huge London feel like a village of extended family, I'd definitely agree!

Of course, Sam told me that with Ruby, it was the same while she was a puppy - loads of people coming up and cooing at Ruby. Now since Ruby has gotten bigger, people don't stop and coo, but rather they tend to point and laugh.

Ruby

2007-01-24T16:51:00.001Z

Yesterday Max met Ruby - another black pug just like him! Ruby is 6 months old, and a dynmo of action!

Ruby, in a rare moment of stillness!

Ruby and her mini-me

Looks like Deuce's head is in Ruby's butt - which it's not, surprisingly since that is where it was for the most part of the evening!

Deuce and Ruby got on like a house on fire, and took turns crying uncle. At one point Deuce was standing over Ruby whilst she was on her back, with her little belly showing - then it was Ruby lording it over Deuce. They were sort of play fighting, but the noises Deuce was making were unreal. He sounded like one of his squeaky toys! He tends to spread out his paws when he's squealing, and a couple of times when Ruby was play attacking, he stood up on his hind legs, with arms stretched out to the side waving up and down, paws splayed wide, making a weird eegh eegh sound. Sam (Ruby's owner) and I burst into laughter. I think he might have been scared, I'm not really sure. But Sam and I couldn't stop laughing. Didn't seem to bother Deuce, as he still ran after Ruby whenever he could! Sam got some better shots - hopefully she'll be able to email them so i can post them!

Deuce puked this morning. Was up at 430 whining, I suspect now that he wasn't feeling so hot. He then puked up yellowish foamy stuff. Called the vet (again) and they told me to keep an eye out. Worked from home, kept an eye on the puglet, who retched every so often, burped and it appears possibly swallowed whatever he brought up. He slept most of the day, but he seems to have gotten his wind again now. Sigh.

Oh Deuce saw his first baby make noises yesterday- he looked at him and cocked his head like he didn't understand what the baby wanted (of course he didn't, but he looked like he didn't too!). Very funny.

Maximillian Doge

2007-01-22T19:16:00.000Z

Deuce had his first play date today with Max, a fawn 1 1/2 year old pug (from Snuggle Pug). It took Deuce about half an hour to warm up, and then he followed Max around like a little brother. Max went into the loo, so did Deuce, Max ran under the kitchen table, so did Deuce. Until Max did his pugtona, then jumped up onto the sofa, Deuce tried but failed (being too little!). So he made do with launching himself at the sofa, and quacking away at the foot of the sofa. He had his little pug smile on - clearly pleased as punch to have had such a great day. First a long walk in the park with Sarah and another white terrier puppy, then Max & Kathleen. Tomorrow he gets to meet Ruby, another puppy. Life is good!

A sneak peek at Deuce when we're not home - photo taken from our front window...all that whining when we leave is clearly just for show.

Django, a pug in the Netherlands, reviewed Deuce's blog this weekend! How exciting!! Can't do much about the template, but I can post more pictures! Here is a link to the review - http://www.pugs.nl/blog/?postid=76.

Weekend was jam packed - places to go, people to see. Deuce came back from his walk with Cleone totally knackered - and peeing alot! He woke up Saturday morning and peed like 4 times in half an hour, which got me worried. Puppy class came and went, and he played with a wiry daschund. He also peed (copiously) on the floor!

I kept an eye on him, and because he was more tired than normal (he basically slept the entire day), I got really worried about him having a urinary tract infection, which seems to be quite common in pugs, and took him to the ER vet. She didn't have the same bedside manner as V, his regular vet. I was less than impressed. V can give him injections and stick a thermometer up his butt without him even blinking an eye, but this lady had him squealing and yelping. Even wanted to give him a shot of pain killer and a dose of antibiotics without 1) knowing whether he did have any infection or not and 2) him actually showing he was in any pain or discomfort. Thankfully his urine tests came out totally fine. We took him to a pub in the afternoon - he slept the whole time, and when we got home he was back to normal again. Phew!

Deuce asleep at the pub - his head fell into my purse.

Sunday he got to meet his grandma & grandpa! Okay, technically the fiance's parents, but Deuce was really happy to have more people to dote on him, and he got a fabulous denim chew toy.

Deuce waiting for his new toy...

Deuce with his new toy.

Looking innocent...

We took him to the park for a wander, David left Deuce's green jumper with Cleone, so we had to make do with his blue one, which is way too small for him now!

Deuce in action - David's dad got out his cameras and took some great photos (in fact, almost all of the photos on today are Frank's!)

Deuce in a rare moment of stillness.

With his hero, David.

He was center of attention on Sunday, and I think he loved it. He slept well last night!

What a lucky little puggy!

He loves his veggies - fennel here.

Growth

2007-01-19T20:30:00.000Z

Then

and now.

David picked Deuce up today, as I was meeting a friend for dinner. Came home to find him slow in movement - think he had himself a fab time with Cleone & Co. Tomorrow puppy class - this is really the first time i have diligently done my homework! How weird.

Little Deuce is so tired, he's just curled up on his orange cat cushion. A snooze is imminent!

Gales

2007-01-18T22:43:00.000Z

Spent the morning at home, safe from the gale force winds outside. Deuce played happily (crazily) at my feet. Had to get our front door locks changed, so the lock guy was here looking at our locks and then dropping off the 47 keys I had ordered (providing keys for 12 flats and a number of managing agents). Deuce seemed fine on his own (left him today with a kong filled with chicken bits - he enjoys turning and pushing it to get the chicken out. Miracle toy - he didn't care that I was leaving, whereas he normally whines a bit). Got home for 630, he was up and waiting for me to come home Such a cutie.

He readily uses his litter box now - running into it from one end of the room when he needs to. Am feeling more confident leaving him to explore the room, as he often will run into his litter box, then to me waiting for his treat! Clever thing.

His puppy push ups are getting way better - but have to get him in the right mood for doing it. If he finds something else more interesting, he'll ignore me until he's good and ready. Tomorrow he spends the day with Cleone, a mini daschund puppy, a poodle and others. Hopefully he'll have himself a good time and come home all tired!

He runs around the sofa, the chairs, like a hare being chased by a greyhound. Tail tucked, he looks more like a rabbit than a dog. And he loves to stick his head in between my leg and the ground, with his butt in the air, forelegs stretched out straight in front, biting the air. I'll have to get a vid of it.

Juggling

2007-01-17T21:55:00.000Z

Yesterday I came home at lunch and spent the afternoon working from home. It is hard to pay attention to work with a little puppy playing at your feet! Today was a little more hectic - lunch with colleagues, rushed home to feed puppy and then join a conference call, then rushed back to make a meeting near Tower Hill. Then came home, picked up the puglet, took him to meet Cleone, his Friday sitter.

Cleone lives about a 15 minute walk from home, and is a really calm lovely person. I wanted her to take Deuce on Mondays, but one of her charges doesn't like Deuce. So he's going to go with her on Fridays. She'll pick him up between 830 and 9am, and we will go pick him up after work.

Fatima, our cleaner, now comes on Wednesdays, so she'll feed him his lunch on Wednesdays. Which leaves me now with a more manageable 2 days to deal with.

We were supposed to meet up with another pug tonight as well, but will do so on Saturday night instead. If it works out between the two, they can spend some time together during the work week - it will be nice for Deuce to have some puggie company. I feel so bad when I come home and all he wants to do is play, and I have to work. And he really is like a little alien - his own language and customs - he needs another little alien who understands him!

Home Alone 2

2007-01-15T21:17:00.000Z

Puglet was left at home alone today. Sarah came to get him at 2pm, took him out to the park where he played with Bertha (the black lab) and kiki, a bulldog. Sarah said he had a great time. Came home, and he was sleeping with his head hanging down from his basket as he does when he's really enjoying his sleep!

Some pics of the puglet in action:

Attacking Squirrelly, he goes insane over his Q Squirrel.

Caught in the act

Resting up

Bullish

2007-01-14T20:19:00.000Z

Took Deuce up to Islington for the first time today. Wandered over to Highbury Fields, which were a bit too muddy for either of our liking. He tried to befriend a brindle saluki, who just ignored him and went about chasing sticks instead. We walked (rather, he meandered, then was carried) to the pub, the Marquess Tavern to meet up with Barb Paul and Sophia. The Marquess Tavern was voted best roast beef in London and best gastropub as well. The team behind the Ivy and St John's (well known restaurants in London) were the brains behind the pub.

It was gorgeous - just the right vibe, relaxed and cozy, and so friendly. Got to the pub, and tuckered out from the 10 minute walk to the pub, Deuce promptly fell asleep, in good time for our lunch to be served. (As I am writing this, he is stealthily stalking his Q Squirrel, ready to pounce..) We met a lovely bulldog puppy - Raffa - and his owners Maria and Will. Deuce woke up in time to see a huge round face staring at him (and snuffling). Deuce was, predictably, scared whilst Raffa was really interested in Deuce. Deuce seems to only be interested when he is being ignored!! After about an hour of the puppy scared/curious dance of toing and froing, they finally got the puppy kisses going and made friends. Raffa is about 13 kilos. Deuce is 3! But they played a bit which was lovely. The after all that, Deuce fell asleep again! Just in time for me to enjoy my dessert.

I always forget to take photos of other dogs, but here's Deuce, asleep, when we first got to the pub.

*Skip*
As usual Deuce held it in, and at about 530 (he had last gone at 1) I had to take him out for a pee. Took about 5 minutes, but they he let go a mini stream. He waited till we got home for number two. He's really doing well with the toileting, hopefully he's getting the hang of it.

Tomorrow Sarah comes to pick him up for the afternoon. I've put together a note, some treats, his jumper, and his harness and lead. I feel like I'm sending of a kid to playschool.

Sit stay

2007-01-14T13:19:00.000Z

Yesterday Deuce went to his second puppy class - the trainer went round the class asking about toilet habits, and asking owners to raise their hands if they were having problems with toileting their dogs. She went round the owners, then asked me about Deuce. I said no problem, but apparently she asked me because David had raised his hand! But having listened to the other owners, David quickly agreed Deuce is actually pretty good for his age. He knows where to go, and is taking himself there more regularly without our prompting. He also doesn't like to go except at home, which makes for great outings (no worrying about picking up after him).

Class was chaotic, and Deuce is good at some things, not so great at others (great sits, ok downs, not so great recall). So we're working on those. He tried to make friends, was a bit better with the barking and a bit more confident. Baby steps!

So our typical day:

7ish, Deuce wakes up. He usually goes in his litter box first thing, 1 and 2, then cries til someone lets him out of his pen.

8ish - breakfast. He now gets yoghurt with crushed seeds, some flaxseed powder, some living foods powder (kelp, alfalfa sprout, barley grass, and various other goodness), his calcium tablets (to balance the phosphorous from his meat), his multivitamin. He follows this up with a little wee in his box.

After breakfast is grooming time. I'm slowly getting him used to the Dremel, so every morning after breakfast he gets 2-3 minutes with the Dremel. It's weird, it's the only time he's really calm and quiet sitting in my lap. He's great with the Dremel, thank god. So his nails are looking good, not quite as short as I'd like, but as we are able to Dremel longer, they'll get to their proper length. We're working on the brush - he likes to chew the brush - so I'm going back to square one in touching him with the brush, clicking and treating. So in a couple weeks I'd like him to just lie still as I'm brushing him. Sundays are full grooming time. He gets his nose roll cleaned and his ears too (he has narrow canals and they get yucky quickly).

Then he runs around for a bit, and then falls asleep.

We do a bit of training here and there. We are working on sit stays and down stays, puppy push ups (sit, down, sit down), and walking on lead.

Lunch is around 12-2, then more sleeping, playing and training, then dinner around 5-6, and last meal around 9-10. His lunch and dinner are meat with a bit of veg, a bit of sardines, a bit of ground flax seed, some more of his calcium tabs, and dinner is usually just yoghurt.

By 10 pm the little one is just pooped and fast asleep.

Saturdays normally are puppy class first thing then in the afternoon a romp in the park, with a visit to a pub for grub (for us, for him a snooze in the sun) and Sundays we call into the park as well. But yesterday we had a friend visiting from Paris, so Deuce missed his visit to the Gardens. Today I'm going to take him to Highbury fields for a change of scenery. And then to a pub for grub! It's great for Deuce, since many pubs here are dog friendly.

Rabies & Passports

2007-01-12T18:27:00.000Z

The UK is part of the PETS scheme - Pet Travel Scheme - which enables pets to travel to certain listed countries, and return to the UK without having to quarantine your pet for 6 months. We started the process with Deuce today - he got his rabies shot, and was microchipped. Next step is to have some blood tests in 3 weeks time to verify that the vaccine has given him the required protection. If it has, then he is allowed to leave the UK and return (no earlier than 6 months from the date of the blood test) to the UK without quarantine. Which means... we can do continental Europe holidays August 2007.

Still though, it was heart wrenching to watch him get his rabies and microchip. The other two vaccs he took really well, barely noticing. He yelped a wee bit after the first one, because it itched and stung, but nothing too bad. Today though - ergh. The nurse came in to hold him (so that he wouldn't associate me with the pain) and V the vet (she's really nice, both Deuce and I quite like her) gave him his rabies. He actually screamed. It was horrible. Then the microchip. He went beserk, and screeched and screamed these piercing squeals. I never understood when parents say their heart goes out to their little ones when getting vacs etc. Now I do. I almost wanted to turn around and say nope, not doing it. Sigh.

He's fine now though, of course. And even 5 minutes after the shots, the nurse that held him (and was afraid Deuce would hate her ever more) picked him up and he offered her some make up kisses! That is the beauty of Deuce - a little cuddle and a tummy rub and everything is right as rain again.

Camera obscura

2007-01-12T08:21:00.000Z

Some recent pics from the little monkey:

Deuce on his favourite cushion, with his little chew stick.

My action shots are terrible though - I tried to get some of him in the park, and these are the better of the lot:

Deuce is such a wriggler and mover, it is really hard to get decent shots of him in mo. He's more often than not a total blur, or, if a flash is used, so shiny he looks greasy, even though he's not at all. What kind of cameras do you use for your pugs?

Second interview went quite well - Deuce came home not super thrilled to see me, which I take as a sign he had himself a ball. Apparently he made friends with a big black lab called Bertha. Of course! His dream. He's been going after older and larger females since I got him. Anyways, Sarah will be picking him up from now on every Monday morning and dropping him off around 2. I'm going to check out the first lady again. Will ask about smoking as well. She'd be perfect for Fridays - I can pick him up on my way home from work. Let's see how he gets on today with her (am dropping him off for a couple hours today as a trial run).

Interview no.2

2007-01-11T10:00:00.000Z

I took Deuce up towards Kensington Gardens yesterday we made it half way there before he got tired and we had turn back to go home. He tried every single set of stairs on the way home, thinking they were our stairs! Very funny.

Deuce is a bit of a kamikaze - he will launch himself off of things - if I'm holding him and he wants down, he'll launch himself away from me, or if he's on the sofa, he'll just try to jump down. He has no sense of the consequence of height. But I think slowly he is getting the idea. He slipped off the sofa yesterday, not far enough to fall and hurt himself, but far enough to panic a little. I caught him, thank goodness, but I think now he understands a little more about heights!

When we went out the other day with my friend Angie and her baby, at one point, Angie was holding Deuce's lead as I was buying food in Ottolenghi. When I came out, she said that quite a lot of people had stopped and asked her about Deuce, or came up to pet him. She told me that not one person who came up to talk to her mentioned her baby (she was carrying him in a baby bjorn)! I was secretly thrilled Deuce had so much attention, and bemused that people here, who are normally very reserved with total strangers, have no issue with talking randomly to you about your dog. It is actually so nice - even the scary lady up the street who was once quite rude to me, has completely melted and addresses my dog by his name every time we meet (even though she still hasn't a clue what mine is).

A local dog walker came and picked Deuce up yesterday to see how he'd get on with her other dogs. Deuce quite liked her, but apparently one of the other dogs, Maud, wasn't so keen on him, so that's a no go.

I am not so fussed that the other lady can't take him - he came home and smelled of cigar smoke. He's off with another lady today, who was a car specially fitted with kennels in the back. He's going for a romp in Kensington Gardens with her group, a black lab, and two mini schnauzers. If all the dogs get on, he'll be heading home with her for a few hours, before coming back to me around 130.

*Skip*
As for his toilet habits, he's slipped a bit. Or rather, I've slipped a bit. He's had three "accidents" outside his pen, and missed his box 3 times (though in terms of darts, he's damn near bulls eye so I can't complain too much), so I've upped the vigilence again, not quite to where it had been, but am timing him again and keeping him in his litter box area for a little longer until he 'does his business'. So far this morning it's been working. Sigh. We thought he was doing so well and I guess just gave him too much freedom too soon! Still, all things considered, he's doing really well.

Ahhh - I have 4 hours now before the little kamikaze returns. Errands! Must go run errands!

First Bark

2007-01-09T22:02:00.000Z

In the morning he was in our bedroom and noticed himself in the mirror - ran up to it and away from it a few times, then actually did a mini bark/woof at himself a few times. I had to tear him away from himself to take him for a walk in Kensington Gardens.

There were quite alot of dogs out there, and a few yapping at each other. Deuce got all shy when two Benji dogs came running up to greet, Deuce hid under my legs, venturing out to say hi once in a while then running back.

As we were sitting on a bench, a scottie came bounding up, and Deuce actually barked (in his woof/quack way) at him. I wonder if he is just finding his voice, or he is learning from other barking dogs?

Deuce has his first interview with a local walker tomorrow afternoon. He has a second lady coming on Thursday morning, who walks with a couple daschund puppies, and a black lab.

He also had a taste of his first pig's ear - gross looking stuff. He loved it though. Have also ordered something called Bully Sticks in the US, and Bull's pizzle's here. If you do a wikipedia search on the word pizzle, you'll see what these things are.

And here's a nice photo:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PizzleTreat.jpg#filelinks

Wolves & Monkeys

2007-01-07T21:17:00.000Z

So update on the food -

Trawling the internet I have come across some interesting stuff. Firstly, debunking BARF. The basis is that our dogs should eat what their ancestors the wolves eat to be healthy and long lived. However, the link between wolves and dogs is about the same as the link between monkeys and humans. There is one, but it is removed enough to show physiological and biological differences. So, the whole BARF thing really doesn't add up. If, along the same logic, it is healthier for humans to eat the same diet as our ancestors, then we would be eating berries, worms, and roaches, and some raw meat. But we don't, for nutritional and lifestyle reasons.

So, given dogs are actually biologically different enough from their wolf ancestors, we really should not be basing our feeding of them on observations of wild animal scavengers. Humans can also be scavengers, but that doesn't necessarily make them healthier.

Still, BARF vs kibble, I would take the raw meat. Anything has to be better than 'extruded' food. I mean really, 'extruded'? It even sounds wrong. We know processed food isn't great for us. It doesn't take a huge leap of logic to know that processed food can't be that good for our furry companions. It wouldn't surprise me if all the 'miracle cures' from people moving their dogs from kibble to BARF was a result of the dog detoxing all the processed crap out of their systems. Hard to feed anything processed, oversalted, oversugared, etc, if all they get is the raw material (pardon the pun!).

So BARF is out. Next kibble and the whole mantra that home food doesn't get the right balance of nutrients, that I am harming my dog blah blah. I was told kibble was the best in terms of nutrients for my dog, so I decided to find out exactly what nutrients are in kibble which are so good for puppy growth, since it cannot be disputed that that those nutrients can be put together in fresh form (after all, kibble was fresh stuff at one point).

I found out that North American commercial dog food takes as its parameters the nutrient profile from AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Controls (http://www.petguide.org/dogfoodnutrients.htm). Any commercial dog food which wants to call itself 'complete', must contain the minimum nutrient profile set out by the AAFCO. Having looked at it, and deciphered it (histidine, arginine, tryptophan - amino acids!), all that stuff in it can be had with a balanced diet - main things are eggs, meat, poultry, cottage cheese, some dairy, seeds, nuts, vegetables (green leafy ones in particular), fish. I compared Pedigree Breeder's puppy kibble with Burns puppy kibble, and found the nutrient profile is pretty similar, and in line with AAFCO's. Of course, the quality of the ingredients is another matter (derivatives, by products, meal). Funny how solid facts just cut through the crap. i feel alot more confident feeding fresh food now (not to mention that fresh food has a decent moisture content, upwards of 70%, whereas kibble has something like 5% - a recipe for dehydration!). Also a note on the AAFCO table made me shudder - "processing may destroy up to 90 percent of the thiamin" so "allowance in formulation should be made to ensure the minimum nutrient level is met after processing" - if processing destroys that much of the original vitamin b1, what other minerals and vitamins does it destroy that have to be added back in afterwards? Like boiling the crap out of veggies, then adding a vitamin and mineral supplement to it to get the original nutrients? Barking mad.

Amanda from mypugsblog recommended I email Silvia of Baby Barks, which I did (thanks Amanda!). She was totally helpful and has also given me a boost of confidence. I'm going to add potato and sweet potato to his diet (tonight he had some quinoa which he licked clean) and cook his tomatoes and carrots so they are easier to digest. He certainly is happy and I notice sleeps very well after he eats! Dogs must get food coma too - I always get it after lunch. Sooooo sleepy. Too bad my office doesn't have a comfy sofa to kip on!

New friends

2007-01-06T22:27:00.000Z

Deuce went to his first puppy socialisation class today. There was Monchi, a jack russell/shih tzu mix, who was slightly smaller than Deuce, the rest were all rather larger. A Saluki, a German Shepherd, a jack russell (also small), a small bear like dog, a daschund, and a couple adult king charles spaniels to teach the little ones some manners. Deuce was a bit freaked out by all the barking (since he doesn't bark himself) by the really hyper Jack Russell, the whining Saluki and the barking minibear. There was a retriever, same type as Whistler, that was totally rambunctious and interested, but who made Deuce run for cover. It was fun, and after the first half Deuce got into it and interested in the other dogs. We learned how to do a recall, and practiced sit and down (which Deuce already can do, taught with a clicker!), and stay which Deuce needs practice on.

The trainers were really nice, though they struggled a bit to get themselves heard over the barking and whining. We walked around a couple times with the pups on lead, and Deuce I have to say did pretty well. He's learning how to walk (instead of puppy ADD and lurching every which way, or just sitting there). Not there yet, but he's trying!

At the end of it there was an off lead session where the pups just ran around. Deuce was making friends. The fiance unfortunately had a bad time - as he was standing there watching the dogs play, one of the spaniels cocked his leg and peed on his leg! Poor guy. We were however very proud of Deuce - he didn't pee on the floor or poop (as the Boston Terrier Sophie did, I think Deuce found her very uncouth), and waited for the privacy of his own lavatoire.

We headed home so Red could change his trousers and regain some of his dignity. Deuce slept soundly, until lunchtime, when his belly nudged him to get some food.

After lunch, Deuce had his first pug meet up in Hyde Park. A load of other pugs were there, mostly blokes, and one other girl puppy, 1 week older than Deuce. She wasn't so keen on the rain (as it was sprinkling down) and spent her time cowering and shivering. Her peeps ended up carrying her for the whole hour they were there. Deuce was gallant and lent her his towel to dry off and keep warm. He was a bit hesitant at first with the bigger dogs, but then started to follow them around and play a bit. Some of the pugs were gentle with him, but there were a couple who were more interested in running at him and bowling him over. Puglet was a bit miffed and I have to admit slightly scared. He spent some time hiding under a baby carriage, but then came out again when he'd gathered his courage again.

After an hour in the rain we headed home, and Deuce fell asleep as we carried him home.

He's certainly coming along nicely - he's sleeping through the night (well, the past three nights... so far so good), happily using his litter tray and whining much less. Next step is to contact a few dog sitters/walkers as he'll need to meet them next week, in prep for my first week back at work. I'll be heading home at lunch time Tues Weds and Thurs, but will need someone to spend a few hours with him on Mon and Fridays.

Vaccs take two

2007-01-05T17:00:00.000Z

Deuce had his second set of vaccs today. He was so good - didn't even notice. Beatrice the pug was there, and she still resolutely ignored him. Poor Deuce, I think he finally got the hint. So he went off in chase of Clare the black lab instead. Clare kind of ignored him (easy to do when Deuce only came up to her knees), though Deuce tried so hard to get her to play with him!

Well, tomorrow he'll have his chance as we're starting puppy classes with him first thing in the morning, then following that up with a trip to the pug meet up in Hyde Park. I think Deuce will be beside himself with glee. His name tag finally came in the post, so at least he will have some id!

I am looking to feed Deuce fresh food, as opposed to kibble or canned food, but dang it's hard to find concrete info on the net. I have heard of Tom Lonsdale and Billinghurst and Kymythy Shultz, but these people do not seem to be qualified animal nutritionists, but rather have a theory and belief on which they base their feeding. Not that I dispute that we don't have to feed kibble to keep a dog healthy. Clearly prior to the commercial dog food industry taking root, dogs were alive and kicking and according to the kennel shows, seemed to be beautiful and healthy back then, so why now this blind dependency on commercial dog food? Boggles my mind.

I'd like to find information that is back up by scientific study which indicates what minerals, vitamins etc etc, should be included in Deuce's diet, what his calorie intake should be. The information seems to contradict in various sources, and it is so confusing! So many are based on personal opinions. Whilst some say I must feed kibble otherwise Deuce will miss out on alot of key nutrients, looking at the ingredients label of alot of kibble, there really isn't much in it other than meat, rice, oats, peas, oil, fish, seaweed and minerals and vitamins. Surely I can put this together myself?

I have come away from the pure raw diets, since it was pointed out to me that humans produce an enzyme in the intestines that digests chitin, the building component of roach shells. So a human being's natural diet would be raw meat, worms and cockroaches, and of course we don't eat that anymore (well, at least not the worms and cockroaches in most places in North America and Europe). Just as we don't eat the original diet of our ancestors I can't see why dogs should eat the original diet of theirs. I have (from years of 'square meal' school teachings and government initiatives) an understanding of the basic requirements for a healthy human diet, but where do I find the same for a healthy dog diet? The search is on....

Happy New Year

2007-01-04T08:22:00.000Z

Our short week in the Brecon Beacons was really nice. There were 5 couples (6 on new year's eve) so Deuce had his fill of toes and slippers, and managed to charm his way into everyone's affections. Even S&C who aren't fond of dogs (S is allergic and C isn't comfortable around them) came out on Deuce's side. Deuce even had a playmate - well, of sorts. Someone's sister came by with her dog Whistler, a one year old spaniel. Deuce tried to play with him, but I think his persistence and lilliputian stature freaked poor Whistler out. Whistler ran away from D, and then to get away from him, furniture hopped his way around, to avoid being at Deuce-able ground level! It was the first time I have seen Deuce wag his tail, sadly though this was lost on Whistler.

Deuce in his bag (gnawing at it, as he does) whilst walking in Abergavenny. Proof that he is a little alien in dog disguise.

Deuce sleeping in his car seat. He is great in the car - spends the whole time sleeping!

By the way, was just on flickr, and for the first time have comments on my photos! How cool is that?!

*Skip*
Deuce managed really well in the strange house, taking himself off to his litter tray to 'do his business'. Only one three accidents in the house over four days, two of which were poops (easy to clean), one was a pee but that was at night in the dark, and all of which were because the litter tray wasn't properly cleaned of clumped pees (my fault). We were impressed.

***

The cottage floors were all slate and stone tiles, so Deuce got to run around without slipping, which was great for him. He did the pugtona a few times. He does specific circuits around the house like a pug on speed, around and around as if it was the Daytona track!

We got back and in recognition of Deuce learning how and when to use his litter tray, made his play pen bigger so he has room to run around and play when he's in there. I also brought out his 'my first bed' which he just loves. He loves to gnaw at it, and dig in it. I'm now feeding him in it, so he will hopefully not pee in it anymore!

Last night he didn't cry once. His crying is also shorter as I think he is realising he just gets ignored when he cries. He still doesn't understand 'walk' - though it is just as likely that we don't understand 'my paws are freezing you nitwits!' or 'damn that traffic, the fumes are suffocating' or something along those lines.

I have found he isn't a big cuddler. Only when he's sleepy does he like to curl up on or next to you. He likes to have people around, but only so that he can run around and attack the multitudes of toes that accompany all the peeps.

We're going to head down to the King's Road today, for a coffee and croissant, and some litter for his litter tray!

Quacking in 2007 [oops, not 8!]

2006-12-29T19:22:00.000Z

*Skip*
Deuce is getting the hang of his litter tray - he actually goes off there on his own. Have found him in there 'doing his business' on occasion without any prompting. Am really pleased we can notice his progress. He is growing really quickly, another 150g since Friday. He had a weird little bump on his toe, took him to see the vet who thought it might just be an ingrown hair. Also had his ears cleaned. He is a mucky puppy with very dirty ears!

***
We are heading off to Wales for week tomorrow morning. Looking forward to the bracing air! And the log fires. I wonder how Deuce will react to the sheep and horses? He is pretty bold - even vacuum cleaners don't phase him. The dustbuster seems to have gotten him though - he seems to want to play with it but the sound I think bugs him.

He's not big on his walks. He prefers to chase after strangers (who might have poached chicken in their pockets) and sitting on the pavement looking at me like I'm an alien. Hopefully he'll be more interested in walking as he gets older! I think he likes the park though as he can just run around off lead.

See you all in 2008 - have a fabulous New Year's!

Cheese

2006-12-28T16:03:00.000Z

Deuce & I walked D to the tube this morning, or rather, D walked to the tube whilst I coaxed Deuce to follow me. We only made it half way - Deuce gets so distracted by the smells and sounds. Even a nice piece of chicken can't tear him away from the p-mail he finds everywhere.

Since he often shivers quite badly when we take him outside, I knit him a couple of little jumpers. This is my second try - it fits much better than the first one.

The front

The back

*Skip*
Today Deuce did his first pee on concrete! We have designated our front patio as his toilet area - he often just holds his pee in if we are out walking, and won't go on the pavement. So this is a big first! Yay!

I have also noticed today that the little Deuce sometimes cuts the cheese. Such smelly farts from such a cute pup.

Let there be - - Quack!

2006-12-27T17:03:00.000Z

Deuce is finding his voice - today he circled round a chew bone, as if it were prey that were still alive about to run away... and woofed (er, rather, quacked) at it! Until today I haven't heard him bark - in his sleep a couple of times he does sleep-woofs, very quiet little woofs, and otherwise just cries and whining when he is left in his pen.

His woofs are hoarse, like a voice that hasn't been used in a while. He actually sounds more like a duck than a dog!

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-26T15:35:00.000Z

Deuce got to visit Kensington Gardens on Christmas day. He played in the grass, and ran around after us. He got all tired half way through the walk so we carried him around the rest of the walk.

*Skip*
Christmas Eve & Day he was great in the toilet front, though this morning he cried aroudn 7 and I ignored him, coming in at 8 to find he'd pooped twice just outside the litter box. Sigh. Then he peed in his snuggle bed. Just goes to show vigilence pays, lack of it also pays but in poops.

***
Deuce wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and lots of chicken for himself.

Pawdicures & Oral B

2006-12-23T19:30:00.000Z

After the fiance left this morning for a weekend visit back to the IoW to visit the folks and drop off all of santa's pressies, I took Deuce out for a walk round the block. He got 3/4 the way there this time, instead of just over half. He's getting the knack of running along beside me on a leash (helped along with a strategically placed piece of chicken). Streets were quiet this morning, though an irish lady stopped to admire him (thought he was a baby bull staffi) and a spanish couple stopped too - the girl gave him a piece of chicken when he sat for her (I had a bag of it in my pocket). She nearly sat down on the pavement to play with him, but her boyfriend looked worried and urged her away.

I realised I didn't have any more of his tinned food so rushed to the vet to get a few more cans. I have some kibble (dried dog food) but am supposed to gradually transfer him over to the new food over a period of 4 days. Went to meet Melissa to pick up our goose for Xmas eve. Deuce slept in his sling, very happily.

*Skip*
Tried to get him to go on the pavement, but he held it all in. He unleashed a torrent when we got home though - and true to form stepped all over his pee! Thank goodness he is a mite more fastidious when it comes to number 2.

***
The guys at the butchers got all gooey over him - it was really sweet to see. Went with Melissa to an antique shop in Fulham, Deuce snoring away in his sling. I couldn't stop giggling, it was so cute and funny. He often wakes himself up with a snort, then slowly his eyes droop and close and he's off snurfling and snoring away.

So far today he has had no accidents. The crate method seems to be working well... i understand now when they say the byword is VIGILENCE (VIGILENCE and more VIGILENCE) when housetraining. I think he might be getting his cue word too - 'do your business' - though that may be total coincidence!

Oh - introduced him to the Dremel today. It's a rotary tool which is meant to sand down his claws, so I don't need to clip. Started out just letting him sniff the tool (he being very curious wanted to play with it and gnaw on it) then giving him a bit of chicken everytime he let me touch the tool to his claws. Took a couple tablespoons of chicken and some persistence (he kept wanted to sniff the tool when I wanted to touch his hind paw claws) he finally got it and let me touch each nail with the Dremel, nicely waiting for his bit of chicken. I turned it on, he continued to sniff it and he let me dremel each claw in exchange for a bit of chicken! I was worried he'd squawk about it, as nail clipping is invariably one of the top ten pet hates, but he was really easy and pleasant! I didn't actually sand anything down, but just got him used to the sensation. Next time I'll do it for a bit longer and see how it goes.

Next up - the toothbrush... because today he really has bad dog breath. I gave him some celery and that did not help one bit - in fact it made him smell worse! Bleh. Dog food stinks so I'm not surprised he doesn't smell that sweet. I've got to talk to the vet more about less stinky food.

Reflections at Playtime

2006-12-23T08:26:00.000Z

*Skip*(I'm going to start putting this where I am talking about Deuce's toilet habits. So for those who would rather not read or know, or who would just like a bit of a warning, skip ahead to *** which means stuff without poop!)

Deuce was great this morning. Slept through the night, not a peep. I got worried and had to crawl out and check he was still breathing. Phew! Snoring like the piglet he is. 7 am heard some rustling and found him doing his business in the litter tray! Needless to say he got a piece of chicken for that. Fed him breakfast, then put him in the box again. Deuce! He got 5 pieces for that piece of good work. Strange he held it all through the night - possibly the combination of being totally tuckered out and the vaccs. We were getting quite dispirited about the housetraining and reread Ian Dunbar's guide to housetraining - making a few mistakes, so we're going back to the drawing board. Reduced his pen area, and we are crating him during the day when we can't watch him 100%. Supposedly a week of this is meant to show a marked difference? We'll see - the pudding's in the making I guess.

After his 3 bingos (yup, three! a pee 5 minutes after breakfast), we played a bit.

***
He loves his string! Finally got a photo of that face he makes when he is having a ball - it really makes me smile!

We also introduced him to a mirror today.

What the Deuce? Who are you?

I guess you aren't that bad after all...

Hmm, now that I think of it - you really are a handsome devil. You remind me of someone I know...

Walkies

2006-12-22T22:17:00.000Z

Deuce had his first vaccs today. He was a trouper - too busy munching a treat to notice the needle, though the itchiness that followed did make him a little crazy for a minute or so, then he went back to enjoying his treat. Bea, the resident black pug, came in for a visit. Resolutely ignored Deuce, whilst Deuce tried very very very hard to get her attention. She had to correct him a couple of times, as he was little too ardent in his advances! Poor chap. I guess he has to live and learn! He has grown too. He was 2.2 kg on Monday (not 2.5 as previously written), and today he was 2.4kg. V says he's going to be a whopper. Not suprising, his poppa is a pretty big boy himself.

On vet's advice, took him out for his first walk today. The diseases that he gets vaccinated against are extremeley rare in London, so she assured me I needn't worry. I had to ask whether any of their charges had complications or sickness from following this advice - they said no. So off we went.

I tried on his new Sherlock Holmes coat - a bit too big. Pugs aren't shaped the same as other dogs - much shorter in chest to bum length, and wider. He doesn't look very happy, does he.

Here he is on his first walk - around the block. Looks a little unsure about the whole enterprise.

But here I think he is getting the hang of it.

And off he goes!

We made it three quarters the way around the block and he got tuckered out, so I carried him the rest of the way home in my coat (he was also shivering. It's cold here today). so many people stopped to talk to him. It was really sweet. I've never had so many strangers speak to me in London before!

We then popped him in a sling and took him shopping down the King's Road, and into Peter Jones department store. He was ace, fell asleep and snuggled down into the sling. Very cute.

He also had some visitors tonight - Ed & Alison came. Deuce completely charmed them, they have offered to be pugsitters. Yay! A & J came too - Andrew at first refused to come over, but we assured him our 7 inch tall ankle biter would be in a cage inside a cage, so he would be safe.

He's yelped a couple of times when I picked him up today - his chest area seems to have a tender spot. I hope it is just a side effect of the vaccination and that he hasn't hurt himself with his pugtona circuits round the living room!

A scooter

2006-12-21T19:00:00.000Z

Deuce has started scooting around on his bum, two hind feet up in the air. Should I feed him pumpkin, or flax seeds? Or will carrots also work?

He fell asleep today while I was holding him - and got very comfy! What a life!!

A real Deuce!

2006-12-21T00:15:00.000Z

Have managed 3 straight toilet visits with results. Finally got him to poop on the FT. What an achievement!

Home Alone 1

2006-12-20T18:00:00.000Z

First day I left Deuce on his own. Went into the office for a Christmas lunch today, work a bit hectic, so was late getting there (was meant to be there for 12 for a secret santa exchange, but got caught on an urgent call). Was gone for three hours - but it would appear little D spent the entire time snoozing. He seems to have a mid morning snooze (right after breakie) so I kept him awake hanging a squirrel thing from my chair while I was working at the computer. He seemed to dig it. So much so that in his excitement he bashed his head against the chair!

Picked up his roowear jacket from the tailors - it was too small in the head so I had a piece of lycra inserted. I may have to have the middle section cut out and then velcroed on to the sides since it is far down his belly (it catches his little p.p.) So left him in his pen, and ran out before I could hear any crying. I wonder whether he only cries when he can see me?

I decided to get him a proper pen - an inexpensive metal jobbie, the same that his breeder had. I think he is much happier in it - he hasn't whined half as much as he did when penned in using a makeship ikea shelf backing and some boxes.

I seem to only have pictures of him sleeping - will try to get an awake photo!

Persistence & Determination

2006-12-19T21:37:00.000Z

Both things which Deuce has in spades. Little though he is (only 2.5kg and 7 inches from chest to bum, and from floor to withers) he is certainly determined. He managed to drag his fleece blanket (all 140cm x200cm of it) from his bed to the floor, and enjoys attacking the labels on his toy & randomly attacking the label sticking out from the bottom of the sofa cushions.

Today we went for a walk to Pet Pavilion, our local pet shop. Well, I walked, and he rode in his marsupack. Or rather, tried valiantly to escape its confines. when he found he couldn't escape, he spent some time gnawing on the offending zipper for good measure. I picked up some shallow heavy ceramic bowls (his other bowls from Ikea were too deep - he ended up in almost handstands whilst eating). Some paw wax to help him grip our wood floors, though not sure it actually did anything. Have laid out my yoga mat and david's camping mat for traction instead, which works a treat. He doesn't slip and fall so much, though he still parks his two hind legs really far from each other, so they are in a very wide inverted v when he eats or plays. He definitely has a cold - he's bunged up and has some difficulty breathing sometimes! He sneezed and goober came out. Yuck. He's got his follow up at the vet's on Friday, when he'll get his first vaccinations. Hopefully he will deal with that as gallantly as he did the thermometre.

I am absolutely amazed by his ability to sleep. He will whine and cry if put in his pen, but then half whine/cry he will suddenly be silent - because he's fallen asleep!

Deuce's Visit to the Vet

2006-12-18T12:25:00.000Z

Today Deuce went to see V, his new vet. She's Canadian- from McGill, with a MPhil from Cambridge! Deuce managed to pee on the waiting room floor- he was following Beatrice around, another black pug, who goes to work with S a vet nurse at the clinic - so much excitement, must mean it is time to pee.

He's got a bit of a cold. I was worried about him last night, he had a weird hack/cough - looked like he was trying to cough up a furball or something. Then he was fine. V gave him a clean bill of health (other than the runny nose). He got some special food since he's lost his appetite. The stuff is like canned liver pate. I put down a spoon of it and he gobbled it all up. He was so excited by it he ran in and out of his kennel twice. Am going to feed it to him in a kong, should keep him busy for half an hour or so!

He also was carried outside in his Marsupack for the first time. I think he wasn't keen on it, but didn't fight overly hard about it either. Come to think of it, he had a thermometer up his butt at the vets, and didn't really mind since he was busy with a lamb treat. Bribery, I see, is the way to go! I'll have to go to the post office later today, so will take him out again.

Day 2

2006-12-17T13:42:00.000Z

Yesterday was a whirl of play, feed, play, sleep, poo, pee, play, play, pee, sleep, poo pee. We decided to try the harder but supposedly faster method of housetraining - basically taking the pup to his toilet area every hour and supervising so that he isn't able to make a mistake and go where he shouldn't. During the day this is fine, since he goes about every 2-3 hours(we're keeping a log). Last night he got up every 2.5 hours - poor tyke was lonely and spent a while crying in his bed. Must be weird being in a strange place without litter mates or mom! He's been much better today, more cheerful and less frightened by the weird noises. He's asleep now, despite the whirring of the washing machine and the various photos I've been taking!

Here's him at his most peaceful - asleep!

He looks quite comfy now!

Introducing Tidemill Blackgang Deuce

2006-12-16T17:03:00.000Z

David had a record 30 minute stopover at the hospital today to have 2 moles scraped off. Two little bandaids keep them clean and safe. He seems to be in good spirits, not in pain or discomfort which is good. They will biopsy the moles and let us know how they do.

Drove straight down to the Mr X's. Got there for 1130am. We sat and chatted, Mr X gave me paperwork (puppy sheet detailing food and various health things), a bag of Pedigree Professional puppy food. Hmmm, it contains rice, maize, beef tallow, chicken extract (?) maize protein flour, sugar beet pulp, and then poultry meal, sunflower oil. Not sure about this maize and sugar beet in it.

Here are the two I had to choose from:

Hard, hun? I went, as I thought I would, for the roly poly one. Can you tell which? ;) It's the first one. I can't say why I went for him - I guess I find his face softer, or sweeter maybe? It's certainly more square. Maybe because he just looks soo... so puggy.

It did take us until almost 2pm to decide - and poor Mr X, he did look so sad when we left. His partner admitted I had chosen his favourite. Little Deuce was not as fiesty as the other, at first, but then when the other fell asleep in my lap, Deuce got active and ran around wiggling his bottom and trying to lick my ears.

We packed up, and got in the car. It was Deuce's first time ever outside, and so I think he didn't quite know what to make of the car. As it started and there were bumps I think he was quite freaked out - kept trying to climb into my neck to hide there.

In the car, a little overwhelmed and probably slightly car sick:

He doesn't look very happy to be in the box:

He came home, and smart cookie went pee on the newspaper, then ran around, then found more newspaper and did a poop on it. I was all ready to clicker him for doing so well, but didn't have any chicken to reward him with so made do with a very enthusiastic 'good boy!'.

Then David and I took turns calling him to us, which he did spectacularly well. I think we totally tuckered him out, cause he fell asleep on the floor. I put him in his new tent (ready for the Brecon Beacons) but he is a little too big for it...

So then I put him in his Varikennel, which fits him very well. You can see he's had a full day! He fell asleep over an hour ago - and he's still sound asleep!

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY

2006-12-15T08:44:00.000Z

Got more kit in the post today - a fantastic little carry pouch called Marsupack from DogBag. Those Italians... such a good eye! Great stylish and good quality stuff!

DogBog initially came up with a portable tent/carrier/car safety thingie called Dog Bag. Ventilated, easy to pack away, easy to put up, strong, etc. I got the Tiny House version - it folds flat (fits in my backpack), with a zipup mesh door. Perfect for weekends away with the little one, so he's got a safe place to sleep at night, without the hassle of huge pieces of luggage.

Another travel friendly item is this playpen from gwlittle.com - it's basically a baby pen I think, but completely collapsable. Collapsed, it fits into a yoga bag type thing with a shoulder strap. Not the lightest of things either, but at about 8 inches in diameter and 3 feet in lenght, also eminently portable.

These'll be perfect as we are heading out to the Brecon Beacons for NYE - so little pup will have home comforts and safe places to play in the cottage we're renting. Also the marsupack means I can take him with me when we go hiking and not have to worry about his little legs giving out.

Tomorrow we head out to pick out the little one, and bring him home. Am nervous about the picking out bit. I guess it will just have to be a case of gut instinct...I hope it will be obvious....

The partner has to go to the hospital tomorrow morning to have 2 moles removed. Nothing serious just as precaution. Hopefully he won't be in too much pain since we'll be driving down straightaway after his hospital appointment.

Yippeeee!!!! Only one more sleep till Pugdom come!

Bingo Wings & Poo

2006-12-10T15:18:00.000Z

Picked up the Puppy Toolkit from the post office on Saturday. It's a great set of manuals - very helpful advice and a reminder of puppy growing schedule. It has some good training information, I'm going to put this together with the clicker training info and use it as a guide and scheduler. At least there will be a bit of structure to stuff I'd like to teach Deuce.

Also received Natural Nutrition and Lonsdale's book Work Wonders - both about raw/natural nutrition. The idea of feeding 'real' food rather than commercial makes sense to me - I tend to avoid eating processed food for its negative effects on health (have you seen what goes into supermarket 'wonderbread'?? Something that should really be made with water, salt, yeast and flour, and time, is pumped full of extremely dodgy additives so that factories can cut out the time and make more money!) and likewise I will do the same for the pup, particularly as pugs seem to be susceptible to a whole host of skin problems, ear infections etc etc. I'm a little nervous about feeding raw chicken etc but I suppose it isn't that different to feeding raw beef ("steak tartare" if I want to be fancy about it!), and with the bones that will be great for their teeth and calcium requirements. I guess dogs eat poo and some dogs catch and kill rats, eat dead birds or other dead things... human grade chicken wings raw really can't be worse than maggoty dead birds or poo... still the idea takes a bit of getting used to! The question is - wean off purina slowly or cold turkey... i think he'll only have been eating kibble for 4 weeks.... with eggs and meat and various other additions.

I also got a book on poo - 0ut of curiosity - from the bookshop on Friday ("Poo: A Natural History of the Unmentionable" by Nicola Davies). Small illustrated book - very entertaining. Apparently carnivores eat their prey's poo to mask their own odours making it easier to hunt. Also baby elephants and koalas eat their mom's poos to get the necessary gut bacteria to help them digest their own food. So dogs eating their poo (or others) has some kind of logic to it! Blech.

And then there were... still two

2006-12-02T21:25:00.000Z

Visited Mr X this morning. Very excited last night, had to go to bed early as couldn't stand the anticipation! Arrived to two sleepy pups in a papered pen. They soon warmed up and were jumping around mewing and squeaking and snuffling. So sweet. Only just as long as my hand. Little tails. The plumper one still plumper, very rambunctious. Both with cute little faces.

The roly poly one was scooting along on its bum - I am guessing it was having issues with its anal glands. We took videos, which I will download later (I need to fix my laptop before I can do this). They are just little black blobs. So sweet. We didn't choose - we'll wait until we go back in 2 weeks' time since they are both quite similar and it is actually really hard to tell the difference between the two. After sitting and playing with them both first one then the other fell asleep in my lap. They then lay huddled in their little bed. I don't know how we are going to choose. I like the roly poly one, but he snuffles alot, and he has that thing with his bum (I hope it is just that he needs a dose of pumpkin!). I like his face and attitude. As I write this I realise that though the other one was also sweet, it was a little more independent but had less of an emotional pull for me. Hmmm. I guess I'll see if it is the same next time we see them.

Oh - they both had umbilical hernias. Mr X didn't seem concerned, though he did say that if it became larger then the pup should have it operated on, otherwise, if it stayed small and caused the pup no discomfort that it should not be removed (apparently some vets will suggest this as a matter of course?). Any thoughts, suggestions welcome!

Stopped off at their local pet shop (which was really well stocked - had just about everything I bought online at the same price without delivery!!). Picked up the same food the breeder is feeding the pup, a nylabone teething bone, cat litter tray and liners. Oh and a little nylon collar and lead, very light weight. I returned the exorbitant collar. Will get him a black leather studded collar when he comes of age.

Countdown

2006-11-30T22:52:00.000Z

16 days to pugdom... all of a sudden it seems like it will be in no time at all. Yesterday I received the varikennel and car seat at work, and then this morning the puppy bed came (it is 2 feet in diameter, so much bigger than I had thought). Something came for me again today which I'll need to pick up from the post office tomorrow. 3 more packages expected... i hope everything gets here before we bring the little one home.

I am starting to become very attached to the name Deuce - I think it works well, and it feels right. I've also been looking into clicker training - there are a couple of clips of puppies learning to sit and do the high five on www.canineconcepts.co.uk (look under books and videos, then new puppies, then click on "Clicker Puppy" - there are two short vids). Soooo cute. I hope Deuce is interested in learning new things!

One more day until we meet the little guy we'll be spending the next decade and a half with - he'll be seeing and playing with any kids we have, my/our god kids, friends' kids... all very exciting. I hope the choosing isn't too difficult!

Cup runneth over...

2006-11-27T23:31:00.000Z

I've gone on a shopping spree.... I thought I better write these things down otherwise will forget what I ordered!

from pressies4dogs.co.uk : car harness, teething stick, cuddle pal and dental care kit
from petsplaceonline.co.uk : dog litter and Bella Behave, cheeky squeaky toy
from canineconcepts.co.uk : car booster and clicker, though I've subsequently found the booster elsewhere for a good £7 cheaper, so waiting to see if they'll match the price
from gwlittle.com : a puppy pen!
from woofnwhiskers.co.uk : puppy bed
from puddlepetcare.co.uk : a litter locker - to store stinky poos!

Now all i need....

Cage/Carrier
some pee pads for journey home
cat litter tray and liners....

Phew! Oh - and of course most importantly... the puppy!

The Rock

2006-11-26T16:04:00.000Z

Went to Paris for the day yesterday - big surprise - the partner proposed! Down on one knee on the Ile de la Cite, with a view of the Ile St Louis. He chose the ring and had it designed, perfect fit. Such a lovely surprise. Am soooo thrilled and a little freaked (planning the wedding ... erg alot of work!). I def have pug on the brain - a major concern was/is: what do I do with little puggy for my honeymoon? 3 weeks away from him is really too long.... what to do??

The Postman Beareth Gifts

2006-11-23T18:40:00.000Z

My roowear jacket has come - and the best little t-shirt! I'm going to knit some little leg warmers for him too. One of the shops here that generally sells accessories has now started a pet line! Very cute. Will have to go check it out. And who is the poster dog? A black pug!

http://www.monsoon.co.uk/icat/accezforpets

Pug Squeal

2006-11-21T23:07:00.000Z

I couldn't help myself. Too funny.

A little jump with a big splash

2006-11-21T22:49:00.000Z

Have been considering and reconsidering getting a pug. Not doubting but rather carefully considering the responsibility this will herald in my life. A little bit of it is cold feet, a lot of it is the unknown. But in the end, I feel that I won't regret the choice. Most pet owners never do - so we are taking the plunge. I called up Mr X and confirmed that we want to get a pup from him. We've our return trip scheduled for 11 am on Sat 2 December. Am sooooooo excited!

Double Deuce

2006-11-19T20:11:00.000Z

Spent the weekend at boyf's folks place on the Isle of Wight. Popped by some pet shops - nothing spectacular but got a sense of size and types of cat litter trays, as well as the different types of litter. The clear silicone based stuff looks great, but a shop keeper told use the best was the wood pellets. If we can find paper all the better, but we will give the wood pellets a go. Ah boyf has taken umbridge at the term boyf, so hereinafter I will refer to him as my partner.

Visited Mr X on the way home. We met the papa, the mama, and the (half) aunt of the litter. The two girls were gorgeous. Very petite. The papa was a strapping type very multum in parvo at 24 pounds, but lovable and friendly. We sat down on the sofa and the three of them bounded in and the two girls hopped up onto us. The boy was a heavy lad, and kept jumping up and snuffling at us. I thought he was having a hard time getting onto the sofa so I helped him up, and he proceeded to try to lick our ears and faces. The boyf, I mean partner, was doing fabulous, petting each dog as they came up to him, though he later admitted to me he was scared witless. He thought they looked like pitbulls, and was afraid they were trying to attack him (snuffling snorting lillaputian pitbulls with scary wet tongues... hmmm). I was impressed however that he managed to look like he was thoroughly enjoying himself. The dogs were taken away whilst we had tea with Mr X who discussed alot of the joys and concerns about pugs.

Then the pups came in. Two 4 week old boys. I got a not very good picture of them:

They were still wobbly on their feet - lifting each paw high up in the air as they stepped - kind of a little baby goosestep. They mewed and snuffled, and after a little shyness, they sniffed all over me and the partner (who said they were less terrifying that the three adult pugs. I should hope so - they were less than a handspan long and kept falling over since their legs weren't used to walking yet). The fatter of the two had a poop. The skinnier one, whilst a little scared at first, quickly came around and started to play with us. Soo cute.

We're going to discuss the boy-girl option, though having seen the 24 pound papa I'm not so worried about a boy being bigger anymore. He'd still be a little dog. As for a name, the papa was a rather mischevious character. I think Deuce might just be a very apt name for his son afterall.

Er...

2006-11-16T18:30:00.000Z

Maybe Pigmy Wellington is better.

No, I got it - Wellington, the Duke of Ah Q. Wellie for short.

No Name Pug has now got one!

2006-11-16T15:13:00.000Z

I think we have settled on a name for the little one. Wellington - in honour of the Wellington who defeated Napolean at Waterloo (not my thing, but my boyf is a huge history buff, and being English, well, 'nuff said). Am very excited that boyf is staking an interest here... what a huge step from his previous complete indifference to dogs and anything dog related! We will probably add Chook, or Chookie (meaning chick, and also short for Chinook) to it so there is a Canadian side to him too. Full name: Chook Wellington of Kensington and Chelsea. We'll probably just call him Wellie for short.

My roowear jacket has been posted - we should be getting it in a couple of weeks. Found a harness I like from Planet Dog. Got a good suggestion for a floor for the pen. Now.... to choose the lucky pup! That will be on Sunday. Tomorrow night off to Isle of Wight to visit the boyf's folks. Then back to see Mr X. Yay!

Appraised

2006-11-13T20:22:00.000Z

Had my appraisal at work today - and after some positive feedback thought I should ask about arranging some flexible working time to care for our new addition.

My boss was great. I think he thinks I am a little nutty... but he's happy for me to work from home the first week and second week we get the pup, then I plan on taking 2 weeks hols. In effect, I can pretty much dedicate my time to the little one by being at home to train it during the first month with us. Am soo excited, but now starting to feel alot calmer in my excitement. Sort of... more settled I suppose is how to describe it. I still don't sleep terribly well, as my mind is awhirl with all things pug.

A recurring anxiety dream I have is of me with a pup (sometimes it is one of my old dogs), and I am supposed to be caring for it, but either I forget about it, or am careless, and lose the pup or simply am not able to do feed it (like I will be trying to get food to it but there are all these hurdles, or I am in slow-mo). I never forgot to feed my old dogs, so why I would be anxious now is beyond me. I guess that's the point of anxiety dreams - they are what we fear.

New favourite names: Voodoo Blue. You're my boy, Blue (a la Will Ferrell!). I thought of Deuce, but then looked it up in the dictionary and it wasn't very nice so I nixed it.

Shopping List

2006-11-11T23:44:00.000Z

Play pen
Bed for play pen (My first bed - Pret-a-pawter)
Food and water bowl (PAP)
Carrier
Bedding for Carrier
Food bowl for carrier
Water bowl for carrier
Carpet cleaner/urine deodorant (discover dogs 12/11)
Collar
Harness
Leash
Grooming brush, comb
Grooming glove (discover dogs 12/11)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Cotton balls for ears
Mineral oil
Flea control
Heartworm
Pet insurance & vet
Registration and ID tags
Kong chew toys (£8 2@Discover Dogs - 11/11)
Squeaky toys (£9 2@Discover Dogs- 11/11)
Puppy training class (starts 6 January)
Car harness
Treats
Food
Jacket (1- 9/11)
Dremel cordless for pets (£10Amazon.co.uk)
Doggles (PAP £13)

Score!

2006-11-11T16:18:00.000Z

Puppy toys from the expo. A good start - two squeakers, two Kongs. Lots of cute stuff, picked up some good info on food and health. Found a holistic food that contains spirulina, no wheat no gluten. Looks good. Will probably try it out. Still need crate and playpen.

Met Ms A, whose pug is due in January. Lovely tempered pugs, but alas not for me. I didn't *click * with the dogs. I did ask to be put on the girls list, but I may need to call her and take myself off it.

Having met her, and now gathering the bits and pieces I will need, I feel more calm - like things are falling into place. I saw a boy pug who was just lovely and found that I couldn't tell the difference betwen boy and girl - so the whole girl boy question I feel may not be such a big issue after all. I am looking forward to meeting Mr X next weekend. I like the look of his pugs (I have seen a few photos) and they have nicely proportioned heads, gorgeous eyes, and lovely mouths. I may bring boyf tomorrow again, I should have another look at the urine deodorants, and try to find a crate and some bedding.

Retail Therapy

2006-11-11T08:02:00.000Z

A visit to Ms B today - feeling quite excited and nervous. Also thought I could use the opportunity to make some necessary purchases for the pooch.

More names I thought of - Bean, Coco Bean, Quiqui, Quiqui Bean, Adzuki Bean, Turtle Bean...

Coco Napolean though has got to be the best.

Pencil Peepees

2006-11-10T08:27:00.000Z

Forgot to mention another thing which turns me off male dogs is their pencil peepee - especially when the pink tip sticks out. Bleh. I spoke to S a nurse at the vet clinic. Apparently 'fixing' them by cutting out the balls when they are prepubescent leaves them nice and smooth, no hanging empty scrotums, and it seems that the pencil peepee will stay in its sheath, since it only comes out when the dog is 'excited'. If he's got no hormones, then less chance of getting excited.

Pugsession by Calvin Klein

2006-11-09T19:15:00.000Z

E, G's mom, said to be sure to get first option with Ms B's pups, and warned me that Ms B would need a 200 squid deposit on choosing a puppy. I called Ms B 4 times today (and emailed her, but only once) and finally got her on the last try. The pop is a fawn. The mother is black. I have first choice of the black girl - if there is a black girl.

Now, I like to think of myself as a pretty liberal kind of gal, not into bloodline snobbery. But the fawn - black breeding definitely made me think twice. Does it matter? Especially as I intend on spaying the little one. What a snob I am. I want black on black, and a glossy black velvet pup. So. Maybe she will have a little blackie, maybe not. Up to Mother Nature.

Ms A on the other hand - I think hers are black on black, at least the father I know is black, a champion at that. I would have to wait till nearly March to get one - and I am on the list for a boy. I would only pass up Mr X's boy if I were sure I wanted a girl. Will need to wheedle my way onto Ms A's waiting list for black girls. I can imagine that the uncertainty, going around to different breeders, is like negotiating ones way through adopting a child. Which agency? Which child? Option overload.

I can do nothing at the moment but wait and see how the cookie crumbles. No - I can do something. I can be proactive. My answer: retail therapy.

In fact, I am already well on my way. I have already ordered my first item - a small red goretex and fleece lined parka for the pup. I will get some booties, and slippers for indoors. A nail grinder. A pen. A bed. Bowls. I guess that will help me pass the time while I wait. I also need the basics - a crate, some blankets, toys.

Received my Pugs for Dummies book - looks set to be the best Pug specific book of the lot.

Buns in the oven

2006-11-08T20:41:00.000Z

Called Ms B. She had her bitch scanned - 4 pups in there! So exciting. I congratulated her. I asked to have a black girl - the waiting game must now begin anew. I am to call nearer to the due date (10 December). I do hope the bitch throws some gorgeous black girls. I think I do really want a girl puppy. When I heard there were 4 I was so excited. When she told me the due date, I nearly cried with joy. I don't need to wait until March - so wonderful for impatient me. Beginning of Feb I'd be able to bring the little one home - and hopefully also visit when they are born, so I'd have enough pug fix to get me through the hols. I must not really want a boy, as all thought of the boy flew out of my mind. Ms B is the lady who bred the captivating young Gracie, a diminutive and well behaved lady I met at the pug meet up.

The irrepressible Gracie
Originally uploaded by Chook Wellington.

A little cousin of G would be such a joy! And... well, I must admit it. I want to buy the pug clothes. There are so many fabulous sites (puppyangel.com, petlondon.co.uk, roowear.ca, muttluks.com), and everyone knows, it is waaaay more fun to buy girls clothes than boys. And doesn't a black girl pug just scream out for a pink hooded parka?

The Marmite Effect

2006-11-08T13:40:00.000Z

Pugs seem to evoke a real bipolar reaction. Some just love them, and fall under their charm immediately. Others look at these creatures with utter disgust.

Sad to say quite a few of the people at work fall into this category. I now understand what it must be like for parents to have children others find repellant. I am slightly offended and slightly hurt that they don't perceive this breed in the same manner I do. (I think they often also falls into the non-pet person category. I firmly believe that there are pet people, and there are non-pet people. Non-pet people just don't get it, the bond between pet and owner, but that is another entry topic.)

The Marmite effect of pugs means I cannot really talk too much about my interest in getting a pug with certain people - hence this blog. It is easier to write down my thoughts, and unburden the pug-cacaphony in my head onto these pages, rather than onto my long suffering boyf who, bless, doesn't care whether it is a boy or girl, or 16 pounds or 20 so long as it doesn't poop on his stuff. Some have outright told me not to buy a pug. To choose a different dog. Alot of non-committal uh-huhing on my part then follows. What is it with people? It is like telling someone who has just put down the deposit on a house in a certain area, that they don't like the area. No good reason, just not to their taste.

Oh well, at least those friends I consider closest understand. And are even excited for me!

The Pug Library of Babel

2006-11-08T12:37:00.000Z

In an effort to educate myself about pugs and caring for dogs in general, I have a small but respectable pug/puppy library which continues to grow. I started out (having scoured the internet for recommendations, which were rather scanty):

The Complete Pug, Ellen S Brown
The New Pug, Shirley Thomas.

These two fall into the Best in Show style category.

Last weekend I acquired:

The K.I.S.S. Guide to Raising A Puppy, Liz Palika
Care for your Puppy, RSPCA Pet Guide

RSPCA guide, thought very thin, is a great starter. KISS guide even better. A fantastic book - alot of great tips and advice.

Before & After Getting Your Puppy, Dr Ian Dunbar.
Don't Shoot the Dog, Karen Pryor

Both of these were excellent, and using fabulous positive reinforcement for training, introducing me to clicker training. No smacking dogs or rubbing their noses in poo. The KISS guide training philosophy is in line with Karen Pryor's clicker training. I will definitely be using these as reference.

The Perfect Puppy, Gwen Bailey

OK, easy to read guide. Same principles as Ian Dunbar, though lacking in the bite inhibition training. GB teaches to just get the dog to avoid biting. Dr D teaches to get the dog to understand bite force, to learn to mouth rather than bite, then to not mouth at all. This way, if the dog ever had any fear/pain situation where it couldn't help itself, like a tail caught in a door, it would not break skin. Much akin to jamming a finger in a door, and instead of hitting a person, smacking the door, or not smacking at all.

Monday I received Clara - the Early Years, Margo Kaufman. Hilarious book about a lilliputian black pug who charmed the pants off everyone. Boyf saw the cover, and said the pug looked like an alien. I have to agree. Very similar to the alien Stitch in Lilo and Stich. Adorable little goblin face.

Latest two:

The Pug, Susan Graham Weall
Pug, A Kennel Club Book

SGW book is another breeder written book, it looks quite promising in that it has a lot of useful information. No colour pics though. The Kennel Club book though is full of photos - a pug junkie's crack candy. Good solid book, with alot of useful breed specific information.

I bought the Dummies Guide to Pugs, Elaine Waldorf Gewirtz (a breeder in the US apparently gives one to every one buying a puppy from her) last night online. Should get that tomorrow or Friday.

UPDATE:

The best ones are the Dummies Guide - fabulous and helpful info, and the Kennel Club Book - all photos and glossy. Very comprehensive too. The best Pug History 101 is the Margo Kaufman book, which is actually a novel!

A rose by any other name

2006-11-08T11:37:00.000Z

Current contenders for names:
* denotes current favourites

Boy:
Goblin
Rosco pico
Chico
Owen
*Capote (the boyf doesn't like this)
Crusoe (Cru)
*Cacambo/Cambo
Pangloss/Pan
Stimpy
Ren
Wellington/Wellie
Machiavelli/Machia)
Niccolo/Nicco)
Bodhisattva/Bodhi
Nadi
Kakuzo
Pygmy/Pigmy

Pigmy Wellington
I saw on the net coco napolean which was cute too.

Girl:
Bella

Either:
*Roo
Boubou
Bouji
Bijou noir
*Bao Bao
Douzi/Doudou/*Xiao dou
Binky
Tintin
Ziggy
Chinook/*Nookie
Niu Niu
Metta

I like Metta. From Wikipedia:
Mett? signifies friendship and non-violence as well as "a strong wish for the happiness of others", but also less obvious or direct qualities such as showing patience, receptivity, and appreciation. Though it refers to many seemingly disparate ideas, Mett? is in fact a very specific form of love ? a caring for another independent of all self-interest ? and thus is likened to one's love for one's child or parent. Understandably, this energy is often difficult to describe in words; however, in the practice of Mett? meditation, one recites specific words and phrases in order to evoke this "boundless warm-hearted feeling." The strength of this feeling is not limited to or by family, religion, or social class. Indeed, Mett? is a tool that permits one's generosity and kindness to be applied to all beings and, as a consequence, one finds true happiness in another person's happiness, no matter who the individual is.

Which? Guide to Breeders

2006-11-08T11:14:00.000Z

I have my heart set out a black pug. I don't know why, but every time I see a photo of a smiling black pug, my heart melts and it makes me laugh. I can't help it. They are fugly dogs. So ugly they are funny. Cheerful cheeky dispositions, and just little clowns. Perfect for me. I did prevaricate and look at pekingnese, as I really love the way they look - like little toys - but their 'aloof and dignified' bearing was not my cup of tea. Silly, goofy, endearing are more what I like.

As part of my research I have read quite a few Pug pet manuals - a fair few of them written by breeders.

I have contacted quite a few - the women without exception have been charming, friendly, down to earth. There are currently three I am looking at - two women (Ms A and Ms B), and one man (we shall call him Mr X). I had contacted one other, who was a bit like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. One minute perfectly friendly and lovely, and the next a snarling snapping scare. I decided to foregoe this J/H and his litter, however cute it may be. The books all say that the I must find a breeder I get on with, since I am likely to be contacting them for advice, etc in the future.

Mr. X has a litter which will be ready just before Xmas. With him, it would be a boy. I was all set until I realised that the pappa of the litter is a big boy - 24 pounds!! The standard size is meant to be between 14 and 18 pounds. So this set me to thinking - do I want a boy, or do I want a girl?

With boys there is no coming into season twice a year, no chance of random dogs zoning in for a hump fest. They are meant to be more affectionate, more people orientated. BUT they are a little bigger, they can spray/mark the house with their urine (to establish territory), they may also enjoy humping legs and various other things. Rather distasteful. If I neutered him, it would be a simple procedure.

With girls, they are smaller, but more independent. They come into season, unless spayed which is a more invasive surgery. They do not mark. If not careful they could be humped by random dogs. Not good!

I had settled on a boy, rather than a girl, but at the meet up there was the most adorable little female black pug. Very cheeky and cute and just charming. I was hooked. So for a time there I was all set to go with Ms A and Ms B. Ms A is expecting a litter in the new year - her pugs are generally smaller, though with her it would be boy, unless there are more than 3 girls to choose from (at the moment there is a waiting list for the girls!). Ms B is having her pug scanned today to see if she is preggers. If so, then I will get on the waiting list for a girl, also due in the new year. The choice - potentially smaller, male or female cute little bundles...

or potentially a bigger male cute bundle....

So difficult. It was actually making me a little crazy - and the tension was inducing headaches. I don't want to buy from a pet shop as they are usually from farms for profit without any thought to the health and welfare of the animal. But it would be simple - a one stop shop. Look buy and take home. This choosing and buying a pug using the responsible route - from breeders who are only breeding to add to their show stock and to improve their line, not to make a buck - is all well and fine but it is as stressful, if not more so, than when we purchased our flat! I mean, a flat, we can move out of at any time. But a pet... well, that is the next 15 years of our lives committed. We need to be as sure as possible, and love the little one.

As an aside, my mother actually suggested I ought to have a baby instead, since dogs are alot of work. I think she is covertly trying to hint at a desire for grandchildren? It did make me laugh. Babies are by far more work, and more expensive than dogs. There are certainly alot of people out there who have dogs, and who work, and combine the two successfully. There are dog walkers galore, doggy day care arrangements, and working from home arrangements. And there is also the point - if I cannot care properly for a small relatively undemanding animal, what chance do I have in caring for a completely helpless but extremely demanding human?

So, my plan is to visit Mr X, Ms A and Ms B, meet their pugs, see whether in fact I have a bias towards the girls, or whether I find the boys are just as charming. Somehow I think it would be more fair for the boyf if the pug were a boy. At least he won't have two girls in the household ganging up on him!

Summa Cum Laude

2006-11-08T10:22:00.000Z

I am a thirty something sex-in-the-city type gal. Okay maybe in terms of urban sophistication, more Bridget Jones than Carrie Bradshaw, but I assure you I scrub up nicely, and will even occasionally look longingly at a pair of Jimmy Choos (though secretly feeling pretty smug in my Uggs).

I have a loving boyfriend, a great flat, and favvvulous friends. But - as I get older, and as my friends one by one succumb to the permanent and life altering affliction of babydom, I find myself more and more broody. Not for a child, mind. I don't doubt I want a child, it's just I also don't think much on it. In a couple years, yes. It is almost an inevitability, like death. But rather, what I have been hankering for, in a crescendoing pitch, is a puppy.

For the past 5 years I've been working on my dog-phobic boyfriend to get to the point where he doesn't actively not want a dog. This has taken alot of doing. When I first starting dating the boyf, a small (the size of a kid's shoebox) yorkshire came running up to him on the beach. He literally jumped a mile into the air (boyf, not the dog), and promptly hid behind me to get some distance between him and the menacing jaws of the rodent sized dog, which to my eye looked like he really just wanted a play. After many years of determination and patience, the boyf no longer uses me as a human shield, nor crushes my hand with unspoken fear whenever a dog happens to come across our path.

Feeling that it was time for the boyf to graduate from his puppy schooling, I upped the ante and started to talk about getting a dog - a pug was my choice - about a year ago. At first there were the usual vociferous objections (some nonsense about dropping the dog into the Thames), and some unwise comments about 'me or the dog' (to which I always promptly chose the dog), during the summer I got to the point where in private he was okay with idea of owning a dog, but with friends he always objected violently. I knew he was close to graduating when he willingly came with me to a pug dog show and relatively happily stayed with me there for 3 hours, watching the snorting snuffling and wheezing pugs waddle and dawdle about in the ring.

Lately he has been extremely busy with work, so much so that I barely see him. This has been, I feel, a huge stroke of luck. At the end of summer, though he no longer feared dogs as he did, he wasn't about to open his arms and welcome one into his castle. Now, as a result of his frequent absences and the deterious effect it had on my well being (me often being melancholy and hungry for lack of someone to entertain and feed me), the boyf has recently been in a far more amenable mindset to my having a pet companion. In fact, I believe he has now come to both conclude and accept a pet as an inevitability. Last weekend he came with me to a local pug meet up, where he knelt down, allowed the pugs to run up to him and bump into his legs, and actually petted a few. This weekend we have another meeting with a group of pugs, to which he again has readily acceded. It is time to prepare a robe and mortar board!